Page 516 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Notodontidae
DISTRIBUTION Southeast United States
HABITAT Bogs and swamps
HOST PLANTS Azalea (Rhododendron spp.) and Bog Rosemary
(Andromeda polifolia)
NOTE Colorful caterpillar that has lateral yellow stripes
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ –2 in (40–50 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2 in (50 mm)
DATANA MAJOR
AZALEA CATERPILLAR
514
GROTE & ROBINSON, 1866

The Azalea Caterpillar hatches from a cluster of up to 100
small, white eggs laid by the female moth on the underside of

leaves. The rst instars are gregarious and feed together. They
have huge appetites and quickly skeletonize leaves. The older
caterpillars eat whole leaves and can defoliate an entire plant.
When disturbed, the larvae raise their front and rear ends and
sometimes drop below the leaf, hanging on a silken thread.
Initially, the caterpillars are yellow with seven, red, longitudinal
stripes but gain color with each molt.

After its nal molt, the caterpillar crawls to the ground, where it

pupates in the soil and overwinters. The moth adults are on the
wing from June to August, with the caterpillars active from July
to October. There is usually one generation a year, but there may
be a partial second generation in the southern part of the range.

The Azalea Caterpillar is black with eight
broken yellow stripes that run along the
length of its body and a red posterior
segment. The head, legs, and prolegs are
glossy red. There are tufts of ne white
hairs over the thorax and abdomen.

Actual size