Subject: green worm with horns
Location: Douglasville GA
September 26, 2012 3:49 pm
What looks like a big caterpillar with horns
Signature: normal
Hickory Horned Devil
Dear normal,
This spectacularly impressive caterpillar is a Hickory Horned Devil.
Hickory Horned Devil
Hickory Horned Devil: First sighting of the season
Hickory Horned Devil: Third Instar
Hickory Horned Devil
Subject: millipede in Princeton, NJ
Location: Princeton, NJ
September 17, 2012 9:41 am
Dear WTB – can you please tell me what type of millipede this is? I found him while on a bike ride in Princeton, NJ this past weekend. He was about 6 inches long and almost an inch thick! Thanks you!
Signature: Briana DeSanto
Hickory Horned Devil
Hi Briana,
This is not a millipede. It is a Hickory Horned Devil, the largest North American caterpillar, and arguably the most distinctive North American caterpillar as well. Despite a fierce appearance, it is perfectly harmless.
Hickory Horned Devil: First sighting of the season
Hickory Horned Devil
Hickory Horned Devil
Hickory Horned Devil
Subject: What is this bug?
Location: Marietta, GA
September 6, 2012 2:46 pm
This bug was found where my husband works in Marietta, GA. He took the picture today (Sept 6th) and they work in an industrial park near a small lake, trees, pine straw, etc. We have no idea what it is, can you help?!?
Signature: Ashley F.
Prepupal Hickory Horned Devil
Hi Ashley,
This caterpillar is commonly called a Hickory Horned Devil, and its shape has been altered because it is prepupal, meaning it is about to transform into a pupa. It appears to be on a hard surface, indicating it was unable to find a place to dig prior to pupation, which is the typical progression of events. Hickory Horned Devils have been compared to Chinese Dragons by our readers.
Pre-Pupal Hickory Horned Devil
Hickory Horned Devil: First sighting of the season
Hickory Horned Devil
Hickory Horned Devil: First Submission of the year other than hatchlings
Subject: Huge Green Caterpillar-like bug
Location: Windber pennsylvania
September 1, 2012 11:36 am
My friend found this huge bug! It resembles a caterpillar, but Ive never seen one w/ these characteristics or of this size! We live In Windber, PA-it is the end of Summer, Sept 1, but she found it yesterday-which was the end of August. It is the end of Summer here, so its been fairly hot.As you can see from the pictures-its green with spikes (black) on its back.
Signature: tammy
Hickory Horned Devil
Hi Tammy,
This Hickory Horned Devil is arguably the most spectacular North American caterpillar. It is also considered the largest North American Caterpillar. We love getting photos of Hickory Horned Devils toward the end of each summer. The adult Royal Walnut Moth, which makes an appearance during the early part of summer, is also a spectacular looking insect.
Hickory Horned Devil: First sighting of the season
Hickory Horned Devil
First Hickory Horned Devil sighting of 2011
Hickory Horned Devil
Strange caterpillar or what?
Location: Ellicott City, MD
October 20, 2011 9:19 pm
I’ve tried to look through your photos of caterpillars to identify this one. We took this picture this past August while hiking at a local state park, next to the river. I can’t seem to look through very many of your pictures because they creep me out, much like this one did! It is neat at the same time though and I would like to find out what it really is. It was pretty large as you can see, next to my 7 year old’s shoe. We didn’t want to get too close as it was moving across the rock. Thanks for any information you can give me!
Signature: Tracey
Hickory Horned Devil
Dear Tracey,
You had the good fortune to observe the largest caterpillar in North America, the Hickory Horned Devil. Though your sighting is two months old, we have decided to post it anyways since the last Hickory Horned Devil sightings might still occur, though most of our sightings are in August and September. We did not receive as many sightings this past year as we have previously.
Hickory Horned Devil
Hickory Horned Devil: First sighting of the season
Hickory Horned Devil: First Submission of the year other than hatchlings
Hickory Horned Devil
Hickory Horned Devil
whats this bug???
Location: odenville,al just n.e. of birmingham,al
September 17, 2011 1:15 pm
This bug was in my yard in odenville,al….
Signature: just wondering paw pawo
Hickory Horned Devil
Dear paw pawo,
The Hickory Horned Devil is North America’s largest caterpillar, and it is also probably the most unforgettable looking. Despite its large size, frightening appearance, and diabolical name, it is perfectly harmless.
Hickory Horned Devil
Hickory Horned Devil: First sighting of the season
First Hickory Horned Devil of the season
Hickory Horned Devil
crazy creature?
Location: ohio, united states
August 12, 2011 9:12 am
can you tell me what kind of creature this is? we found it at work the other day, and maybe what it eats?? thanks.
Signature: christy
Hickory Horned Devil
Hi Christy,
We thought this might be an earlier instar of a Hickory Horned Devil, but according to BugGuide, it is a chocolate brown form of the typically green giant caterpillar. We still believe your caterpillar will continue to grow and eventually turn green. BugGuide states: “Larvae feed on leaves of ash, burning bush, butternut, cotton, gum, hickory, lilac, pecan, persimmon, sumac, sycamore, and walnut.”
Hickory Horned Devil: First sighting of the season
Hickory Horned Devil
Hickory Horned Devil: Third Instar
Hickory Horned Devil
Crazy Caterpillar
Location: Plant City, FL
August 1, 2011 8:49 am
Dear Bugman,
My cousin and I were out touring Dinosaur World when we saw this massive and ornately decorated caterpillar. We thought it was so exotic looking and were wondering what it was called and what kind of butterfly it will eventually turn into?
Signature: Trini & Amii
Hickory Horned Devil
Dear Trini and Amii,
This is a Hickory Horned Devil, and it will metamorphose into a Royal Walnut Moth.
Hickory Horned Devil: First sighting of the season
Hickory Horned Devil
First Hickory Horned Devil sighting of 2011
Hickory Horned Devil
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