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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Bug of the Month: September 2006 – Hickory Horned Devil: first of the season!!!

hickory horned devls
Dear Bugman,
I have three awesome, fearsome-looking hickory horned devils devouring a small sumac tree on my property. My best friend in town is actually an honest-to-goodness entomologist, and he showed me what the adult royal walnut moth looks like too. It would be a privilege to see the lovely adult morph next spring. The caterpillars are probably 5 inches long now-I’ve been watching them for a week or so now. My kids, and especially my two girls, think they are the coolest bugs what ever were. I’ve attached two pictures of them to this email. Enjoy them or post them as you see fit.
Cheers,
Glenn A. Marsch
Physics guy, Grove City College
P.S. When do the moths leave the pupa, and is there any way I might attract the adult moth, or know better how to find them?
P.S.S. Great website! Thank you!

Hi Glenn,
We are so excited to get the first Hickory Horned Devil photos of the season. We usually get the final caterpillar instar images in September when they turn green and leave the trees to pupate. We have been considering the Hickory Horned Devil for the bug of the month for September and would like to request an additional photo once your tenants turn green. BugGuide has an excellent documentation of the caterpillar from egg through several molts. The adults emerge in June and July judging by the identification requests we receive at that time. You probably don’t have much of a problem attracting the adult moths since you have caterpillars on your sumac. Adults do not eat, and the only way to attract them is with pheromones from the female and with food plants. Thanks again for the wonderful contribution.

(08/22/2006)
Dear Bugman,
Now you’ve gone and done it. My scientist mode has kicked in and I thought I’d take pics of the hickory horned devils every other day to see how they morph. The caterpillars are 4.5 inches long, not 5.0–I had my daughter Betsy measure the one stretched lengthwise on the sumac leaf rib (”hickory horned devil 8-21 B”). They do seem to be greener. They have moved from leaf to leaf and if they don’t pupate for a few weeks, they might denude the whole branch of that small sumac sapling. I have noticed that they are frequently found hanging halfway off the rib of the composite sumac leaf, as you can see in the second photo, “hickory horned devil 8-21 d.” If it bugs you (pun sorta intended) for me to send you too many photographs, I’ll stop, I promise. I do think these things are wonderful. We’re trying to observe without disturbing them, which so far seems to be working, because they’re getting as fat as Heimlich in A Bug’s Life–we sure aren’t putting them off their feed. Again, feel free to use any of these photographs. If you do post them on your website, and if you credit them (I really don’t care), could you please credit them to Steve Jenkins and Glenn Marsch. Steve is the entomologist at Grove City College who identified them for me. We’ve had a great time watching them. Cheers,
Glenn

Hi again Glenn,
Your new photo is gorgeous, and there has been a molt between now and the previous image. Both of us are photography instructors and your photos are quite excellent. As we already said, we are contemplating the Hickory Horned Devil as the Bug of the Month for September. If you do not get us a better photo, and we expect you will (we are notorious for pushing our students to the limits of their potential) then we will use your most recent photo as the Bug of the Month image, but will need to edit your letters slightly. Thanks so much

(08/24/2006)
Hi, Daniel and Lisa Anne,
Thanks very much indeed for your kind comments regarding my photographs. I appreciate you adding one of my photos to your caterpillar page. I’m not a trained photographer and I don’t have fancy equipment, but I do try to compose my photos as best I can. Beauty is sometimes a rare thing in this world, but I try to see it where I can, and even mathematical physicists use standards of beauty in their theories: a spare, severe kind of beauty, perhaps, but beauty nonetheless to those trained to see it. (I’m not a mathematical physicist!) It’s raining here today but I’m going to try to get a few more pictures of the hickory horned devils this afternoon. I will do my best to up the ante and take better photos than the last ones!

Posted 21 August 2006 § ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

The Cecropia Project

I’ve also attached some pictures of my Cecropia project. One of the entomologists at the University gave me some newly hatched caterpillars in June, and I’m going to try to get them through to moths. I have already 9 cocoons, with another spinning now and 4 more to go. Anyway, they eat like crazy. If you look closely, you can see 10 of them in the picture. I had to put in new branches twice a day, for a while! I’ll send pictures of the moths if they make it that far. Thanks for a great site! Best wishes–
henry

Hi Henry,
Lest our readers strain their eyes, we should state we cropped your images and some of the individuals are now on the cutting room floor. We also split your letter apart so the Stink Bug is on its own page. We look forward to continued documentation of the Cecropia Project.

Posted 17 August 2006 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Cecropia Moth Caterpillar parasitized by possibly Brachonid Wasps

Hi– just found your gorgeous site. You can bet I’ll be a frequent visitor! We found this fine, fat, fellow at the far eastern point of the country this weekend, in Pembroke, Maine. I was just admiring this photo, when I noticed the little white blobs on the caterpillar’s skin. Are these wasp larvae? Will he die before he can turn into a moth? Also — I guess he’s a cecropia moth.
Meg in Maine

Hi Meg,
This is a Cecropia Moth, and it does appear as though it is parasitized, probably by a Brachonid Wasp species. If that is the case, sadly, the caterpillar will die before reaching adulthood. The wasp pupa are smaller than we are used to seeing on Sphingidae Caterpillars, so it might be another species.

Posted 12 August 2006 § Parasitic Hymenopterans ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Imperial Moth Caterpillar

Imperial Moth Caterpillar in Ontario
Hi bugman,
Here is another picture of an imperial moth caterpillar taken last week in the Killarney provincial park. It seemed to be in need of cooling as it went halfway into the nearest lake before it came back to have this picture taken. It’s length was ~2.5″. Thanks for your nice collection of pictures even though the scientist in me is missing some structure on your site it still was the most helpful site I found in identifying my ‘bug’.
Carsten

Hi Carsten,
The letters on our individual pages are structured chronologically, and surely that must have some scientific value. We are reminded of that line in one of our favorite movies, “A Zed and 2 Noughts” by Peter Greenaway. The two zoologists are visiting the zoo created by a young girl, and one remarks “Leave it to an innocent to put a spider and a fly together because they are both brown.” His twin brother responds that “You can probably learn more about their behavior that way.” At any rate, we are artists, not scientists and we love your Imperial Moth Caterpillar image.

Posted 05 August 2006 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Cecropia Moth Caterpillar

What kind of bug is this
I’m from Ontario, Canada. My son was walking along the grass when he found this caterpillar. We have no idea what kind it is. Wondering if anyone can put a name on it for us. Thank you
Erin & Graham

Hi Eric and Graham,
This is a Cecropia Moth Caterpillar, one of the Giant Silk Moths or Saturnid Moths.

Posted 05 August 2006 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Mystery Striped Caterpillar Aggregation from Chacchoben: Arsenura armida

strange caterpillars
I realize you are super busy and you may not get to my request. I recently found your site and its terrific. I am a high school Biology teacher and plan to use the website somehow during the year! Now, to my request: I just returned from a vacation in the Caribbean and Mexico. While visiting the Mayan ruins at Chacchoben in the Yucatan, I noticed this cluster of caterpillars. We were on a tour and couldn’t linger but I managed to snap the attached picture. I pride myself in being able to find anything on the Internet, but alas I have been unable to identify these strange creatures. I have also consulted several books on the subject and have come up dry. I am starting to think they aren’t even caterpillars. Can you help? Thanks,
Sarah S.
Bakersfield CA

Hi Sarah,
How can we help but to try to come to the assistance of someone who uses the word “Alas” in a plea? First, there isn’t much documentation of rain forest species. Even if the adult is known to science, the life cycle might not be documented. Our first inclination was that perhaps this is some relative of the Tetrio Sphinx, Pseudosphinx tetrio, but we couldn’t locate any relatives. The red terminal pro-legs and coloration led us on that tract. Then we thought there was a resemblance to the Cucullia species caterpillars we know from the U.S. Those are our two best guesses. We will post your image in the hopes that readers out there have too much time on their hands and are able to find an answer. Please let us know if you find the answer.

Update: (06/30/2008) Arsenura armida Caterpillars
With our fourth submission of Caterpillar Aggregation images, we are convinced that this species is Arsenura armida, a Neotropical Silkmoth that ranges from tropical Mexico to Bolivia and Southeastern Brazil. We just located a website with valuable information written by James T. Costa , Department of Biology Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.

Posted 04 August 2006 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Hickory Horned Devil

I love your site and the Hickory Horned Devil
Dear Bugman…
A fellow insect enthusist friend of mine sent me your site and I just love it! I photograph critters in my yard all the time. Some furry, some scaled, most are insects. Most of the time I can figure out what they are. Sometime I can’t. Now I know where to check! I am in love with the giant silkmoths of the night. Some years back I came across a Hickory Horned Devil for the first time, who had quite an adventure with me. I made a webpage about my HHD and thought you’d really like to see it. I’d love for you to share it with your readers to learn more about the HHD and the Royal Walnut/Regal Moth.
http://critters.gato-ranch.com/hhd.html
I get messages every year around late Summer/early Fall from all over the country from people that found one. I’m especially excited when children email me to thank me for my webpage’s info on the HHD. I’ve had many children use my page for reports in class. I think it is very important to edcate the importance of insects at a young age. Too often, innocent creatures are killed because of ingnorance. Which leads me to my appreciation for your “Unnecessary Carnage” section. Thank you for infoming people that killing insects is completely unnecessary much of the time. I frequently will grab a roach or even a wasp from indoors with my bare hands and put it outside. Oh, I’ll be sending you photos for your “Bug Love” section at some point too. Thanks again for what you do…
Jana Miller – The Nature Coast, Florida

Hi Jana,
Thank you for your sweet letter. We will post a link to your site. We have gotten so many photos of Royal Walnut Moths this summer, including a mating pair, so we expect it to also be a very good year for siting the Hickory Horned Devil.

Posted 31 July 2006 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Luna Moth Caterpillar ready to Pupate

Can you help ID this bug please?
Hi! Love your site with all of the information and pictures! Hope you can help us! We found this large caterpillar in our mid-Michigan driveway on July 27, 2006. It was 3-4 inches long with pinkish body and a green head. It had short, fairly sparse hairs on its upper body. The closest guess I could make was a Luna Moth because of the size and the green head, but all of the pictures I’ve seen of Luna Moth caterpillars show them being a definite green color. We’d like to know more about this caterpillar – what it turns into, what it eats, etc. My daughter would love to raise something like this in her bug house, but I didn’t want her to keep this one as we didn’t know much about it. Thanks so much for any help.
Dottie

Hi Dottie,
We are nearly certain, based on an image found on BugGuide, that this is a Luna Moth Caterpillar. Its size, pink coloration (they are normally green) and presence away from the food plant, all suggest it is ready to pupate. It will spin a silken cocoon incorporating a leaf and then remain until the beautiful green moth emerges.

Posted 29 July 2006 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar

What’s this caterpillar?
Hi
A friend gave me your link, and I’ve looked but can’t find this caterpillar. Can you help? We have TONS of Luna Moths, and I’m wondering if this is a caterpillar to a Luna Moth. The first time I saw them, they were about as big around as a pencil and only 2″ long. Now they are over 4″ long and as big around as a magic marker. Please email back and let me know what it is, and if I should be concerned. They sure are going to town eating my Lobelia!! Here is a close up it let me take. Camera was only a couple inches from it, as I wanted to get it’s “face” in the picture. Are those
teeth?? Have a wonderful day!
Pamela Graham

Hi Pamela,
We believe this is a Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar. They do not have teeth.

Posted 12 July 2006 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Pink Striped Oakworm

Jones Family catapillar picture
Hello we are the Jones Family from Orlando Florida, and we were happy to run across your website, while trying to identify this creature. The closest we came was the orange striped oak worm picture on your website, but obviously ours had different coloring. After we took some pictures we let him/her go on its way. Our family particularly my seven year old son have started a small butterfly garden in which we hope to continue to build on, we will definitely continue to send more pictures in the future. Do you think you can tell us what this is a picture of and maybe a little about this creature such as what it turns into. Thanks
The Jones Family Arlene, Craig, Sean, Aaron, and Caleb

Hi Joneses,
Your caterpillar is a Pink Striped Oakworm, Anisota virginiensis, and it is a close relative of the Orange Striped Oakworm. It will metamorphose into a small Saturnid Moth.

Posted 03 June 2006 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Cecropia Moth Cocoon

picture of a chrysalis
here is a chrysalis I found in my back yard……does it contain a good or bad moth? Thanks for any reply
Roy

Hi Roy,
This is a Cecropia Moth Cocoon, a big beautiful Giant Silk Moth.

Posted 21 May 2006 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Io Moth Caterpillar

Name me
My daughter brought this creature home from school and loves it! She wants to know what it will turn into. She also wants to be sure she is feeding him the right food. Maybe you can help? We live in West Palm Beach, FL if that helps!
Vince

Hi Vince,
This is an Io Moth Caterpillar, Automeris io. It will eat a wide variety of leaves, including wild cherry, hackberry, willow, mesquite, redbud, currant, blackberry, and pear. The spines, if they penetrate the skin, will cause a painful irritation. The adult moths have eyespots on the lower wings and exhibit sexual dimorphism. The males are yellow and the females have brown upper wings. They are beautiful moths.

Posted 14 April 2006 § ‡ Comments (0) °

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