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.

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.

LARGE Caterpillar found in Ozark, Missouri
Location: Ozark, MO (southwest Missouri)
July 21, 2011 10:39 pm
Can you identify this large dark/bronze/copper/brown colored caterpillar? We found it in early July in my flower bed, not far from my Walnut tree. It was about 3 inches long. We saw no others before or since. I’ve lived here 12 years and have never seen such a creature! In the photos, you can see the ”horns” and the tufts of ”hair”. It has a black ”band” across it’s head. Also, what Moth or Butterfly will it become?
Signature: ~Susi M.

Hickory Horned Devil

Hi Susi,
Your large caterpillar, a Hickory Horned Devil, will nearly double in size and change color from brown to aqua-green as it progresses through metamorphosis to become the largest North American Caterpillar.  We received our first Hickory Horned Devil sighting of 2011 a few weeks back and we have been getting numerous reports of the adult Royal Walnut Moths this summer, which makes us believe that there will be even more mature caterpillar sightings in August and September.  Folks don’t usually notice the Hickory Horned Devil until the caterpillars have grown to full size and  then climb from the trees to crawl upon the ground in search of a suitable location to dig beneath the surface where pupation occurs.  Walnut and Hickory, which provide the common names for the moth and its caterpillar, are just a few of the trees that serve as a host for the caterpillar.  Others include sumac and persimmon.  The adult Royal Walnut Moth, like other Giant Silk Moths, does not feed as an adult.  Adults live long enough to mate and lay eggs.  BugGuide has a nice series of images of various instars of the Hickory Horned Devil.  The fully grown caterpillar with its bright coloration and striking horns is often likened to a Chinese dragon.

Daniel,
Thank you SO much for replying so QUICKLY!! We found a very large moth last night fluttering against a rock wall here, put it in a jar and by morning it had laid numerous eggs! We think it may be the Royal Walnut Moth from our Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar you identified! I will take photos and send them to you to be sure. It doesn’t look exactly like the other Royal Walnut Moths I’ve seen photos of at the Bug Guide link you sent me, but it may be one of them. I’ve lived here many years and have never seen these caterpillars near any walnut trees in this area. Where are they normally from? And why would they be appearing here all of a sudden? Thanks again.
~Susi Meredith
Ozark, Missouri

Hi again Susi,
Just because you didn’t notice any Hickory Horned Devils does not mean they were not present.  Even though they are large, they could easily escape notice in a large tree.  Since the adult moths fly, they are capable of increasing their range to places where there is available food.  Perhaps you are part of a natural range expansion.

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Caterpillar emergence
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
May 15, 2011 9:35 am
I need to know the emergence dates of the following moth species. They have been stored in my garage since last fall. All but the Polyphemus were hand-reared. I live in Pittsburgh, PA. The moths are Promethea, Royal Walnut and Polyphemus. Thanks!
Signature: June

Hickory Horned Devil: early instar

Dear June,
We don’t believe we can predict with accuracy the exact emergence dates for the Giant Silkmoths you have listed because emergence is not something that can be calculated by counting days, weeks or months.  Temperature and other climactic conditions are significant factors.  However, we can use historical sighting information on adults of the species to try to predict emergence dates.  Since Giant Silkmoths don’t feed as adults, their average longevity would be about a week, during which time they mate and reproduce, if they are lucky, though many individuals provide food for other creatures and never manage to mate.  One of our favorite yearly activities involves tracking the northern emergence patterns of the Luna Moth which began in Texas in late February this year.  Our most northern reports thus far this year have been from Virginia and Iowa, and we expect to begin hearing from Main and possibly Canada by late May or early June.  Later in the year, reports of a second brood will come again from the southernmost portions of the range in Texas and Florida.  We don’t really track the other Giant Silkmoths the way we do the Luna Moth.  Starting with the Promethea Moth, according to BugGuide:  “One brooad flies June to July northward. Two broods southward, flying March to May and July to August.”  The data page on BugGuide with information on sighting in specific states has sightings in March, June and July in Ohio and May and July in Pennsylvania.  The March sighting might have been a cocoon since various stages of the metamorphosis are not aggregated in the data presentation.  We would predict a June hatching for your moths.  Regarding the Royal Walnut Moth or Regal Moth, the adult of the Hickory Horned Devil you have provided as an illustration, BugGuide indicates:  “Adults fly from late May to September” however, that is information spread out over the entire range.    The data page on the Regal Moth on BugGuide indicates sightings from June through September in Pennsylvania and July and August for Ohio, but that information would include adults and caterpillars, and we always get Hickory Horned Devil sightings in September.  Our best guess is that you can expect emergence of the Royal Walnut Moth from the pupa in June, or possibly as late as July.  Regarding the Polyphemus Moth, BugGuide indicates:  “In southern United States, adults fly April-May and July-August (2 broods); in northern part of range, adults fly from May to July (1 brood).“  According to the data page, sightings in Ohio run March to September exempting May and those for Pennsylvania are from May to August.  Based on that information, we might expect your Polyphemus Moths to hatch the soonest, possibly beginning now and into June.

Thanks, Daniel!  I have been successful in the past with the Promethea as far as mating and collecting eggs.  I would like to try the same with the other moth species.  I’m thinking it might be best for me to attach the cocoons to the inside of the metal hardware cloth cage that I have used for the Promethea and wait to see when each emerges.
Thanks for your efforts in researching my questions.  I appreciate it very much.
June

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