Page 388 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Eastern United States
HABITAT Forested areas where host plants are abundant
HOST PLANTS Various, including ash (Fraxinus spp.), Buttonbush (Cephalanthus
occidentalis), hickory (Carya spp.), privet (Ligustrum spp.),
sweetgum (Liquidambar spp.), and walnut (Juglans spp.)

NOTE Caterpillar whose common name re ects its striking appearance
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, usually common but now rare in New England

ADULT WINGSPAN
3¾–5¾ in (96–147 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
6 in (150 mm)
CITHERONIA REGALIS
HICKORY HORNED DEVIL
386
(FABRICIUS, 1793)

The Hickory Horned Devil emerges from the yellowish,
semitranslucent eggs of the Regal or Royal Walnut Moth, laid
on the upper side of host plant leaves, and can be seen within
an egg as hatching time nears. The caterpillar is named for its
large size and spiked horns in later instars, which make it look
like a small dragon. It uses the horns to scare potential predators,
The Hickory Horned Devil, one of the largest moving its head violently when disturbed. As the horns can be
North American caterpillars, is colored in a urticating, the caterpillar should be handled with care. The
striking translucent green and has orange horns
tipped with black on its head. Its thoracic region larvae are solitary feeders and grow at a rapid rate, reaching
also features many long horns, with shorter
horns running the length of the body. The green their full length within a month.
coloration takes on a bluish hue before pupation.
When fully grown, the caterpillars climb down to the ground
and dig themselves in, creating a protective chamber in which to
pupate. They spend the winter there before the adults emerge—
moths with a large wingspan and distinctive markings in shades
of reddish brown, patched with yellow.

Actual size