The Hickory Horned Devil is a fascinating creature that you should know about. Known as the largest caterpillar in North America, this insect is the larval stage of the Regal Moth, scientifically named Citheronia regalis. Despite their alarming appearance, Hickory Horned Devils are actually harmless creatures.

You’ll most likely find these striking caterpillars feasting upon the leaves of various trees, such as walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon, and sweet gum trees. They have a unique appearance, with their blue-green color and two pairs of yellow to orange curved horns just behind the head, as well as paired rows of spines down their back.

As the caterpillar matures, it can grow up to 12.5 to 14 cm in length, or about the size of a large hot dog. Their fascinating appearance and biological traits are what make the Hickory Horned Devil an intriguing species to learn about.

Hickory Horned Devil: Origins and Habitat

First Discovery and Classification

The Hickory Horned Devil (Citheronia regalis) was first discovered and classified in 1793. It is known for its impressive size and ferocious appearance. However, despite its intimidating looks, it is a harmless caterpillar.

Geographical Range

The Hickory Horned Devil can be found in various locations across North America such as:

• Eastern United States
• Central Florida
• East Texas
• Eastern Texas
• Southeastern United States

The range also extends from Massachusetts and New Jersey down to Florida, reaching as far west as Texas and possibly extending into Mexico.

Habitat: These caterpillars are commonly found in areas where:

• Hickory trees or walnut trees are present
• Eastern hardwood forests are dominant.

Notable characteristics:

• Caterpillars can grow up to 5.5 inches (14 cm) in length
• They have a blue-green or pea green color
• Their body has long, curved orange horns with black tips.

Examples of their preferred host trees are various species of hickory and walnut.

Physical Characteristics and Life Cycle

Distinctive Appearance

The hickory horned devil, Citheronia regalis, is a large caterpillar with a vivid appearance. Its color ranges from pea green to blue-green, and its back is adorned with rows of spines and two pairs of yellow or orange horns right behind its head [1]. The adult moth, called a regal moth, has impressive orange wings with narrow yellow bands and can have a wingspan of around 6 inches [2].

Some features include:

• Pea green to blue-green color
• Rows of spines and horns on back
• Large size

Stages of Development

The life cycle of the hickory horned devil starts with eggs [1]. Once hatched, the caterpillar goes through several larval stages, growing and molting before reaching its full size of up to 5 inches long [3]. The larval stage lasts around 4-6 weeks [4].

Next, the caterpillar enters the pupation stage and forms a cocoon underground [4]. Pupation can last from 9 months up to two years, with some delaying emergence as an extra year insurance policy against catastrophes that can affect their generation [4].

Mating and Reproduction

After the pupation period, the adult regal moth emerges with its beautiful wings [2]. The adult stage is brief and primarily focused on mating and reproduction. Regal moths are nocturnal and therefore rarely seen [5].

Once mating has occurred, the female moth lays hundreds of eggs on the leaves of host trees like walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon, and sweet gum [5]. The cycle then repeats as the eggs hatch into new hickory horned devil caterpillars.

Diet and Host Plants

Preferred Trees for Feeding

The Hickory Horned Devil, a caterpillar that eventually transforms into the Regal Moth, feeds on the leaves of various tree species. These caterpillars have a preference for:

• Walnut
• Hickory
• Pecan
• Persimmon
• Sweet gum

Leaves and Nuts as Food Source

Leaves are the primary food source for Hickory Horned Devil caterpillars. They consume large quantities, enabling them to grow and molt several times before reaching their full size. This diet consists mainly of leaves from the preferred trees mentioned above, such as walnut, hickory, and pecan trees, along with persimmon and sweet gum source. Though nuts can also be found in some of these trees, the caterpillars do not consume them.

Comparison Table: Hickory Horned Devil’s Preferred Trees

These caterpillars play an essential ecological role by feeding on the leaves of these trees and causing them to shed earlier, which can help with the overall health and growth of the host plants. On the other hand, infestations can lead to defoliation and stress the trees. However, these caterpillars rarely reach population levels high enough to cause significant damage source.

Behavior and Interactions

Defensive Mechanisms and Deceptions

The Hickory Horned Devil (Citheronia regalis) is a unique species of moth native to North America. As the largest caterpillar in East Texas, some people might mistake it for a tiny dragon due to its appearance. Though it might appear ferocious, the hickory horned devil is actually harmless. Its spikes and large size serve as deceptive features to ward off potential predators:

• Spikes: Present along the caterpillar’s body, these spikes may appear dangerous but are not toxic or poisonous.
• Size: Its size, often compared to a large hot dog, can intimidate predators such as birds and snakes.
• Coloration: The caterpillar has yellow spots that stand out against its green body, making it look more threatening.

Role in the Ecosystem

The hickory horned devil plays a crucial role in the ecosystem. As a caterpillar, it feeds on the leaves of walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon, and sweet gum trees, helping control these plant species’ growth. It also serves as a food source for predators such as birds and snakes, despite its deceptive appearance. When it matures, the horned devil goes through a metamorphosis into the less commonly seen regal moth which is nocturnal. Additionally, since the adult moth has no functional mouthparts, it relies on the energy it stored as a caterpillar to sustain itself as it searches for a mate using pheromones with limited time.

Here’s a comparison between the hickory horned devil caterpillar and regal moth:

In short, the hickory horned devil is an important part of the ecosystem, providing a unique role as both a plant regulator and a food source for other species. Its deceptive appearance helps ensure its survival, allowing it to grow into the regal moth and contribute to its overall lifecycle.

Conservation Status and Human Impact

Threats and Challenges

The hickory horned devil, or Citheronia regalis, is a large caterpillar that turns into the regal moth, also known as the royal walnut moth. These insects live in deciduous forests and are drawn to:

• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Buttonbush
• Filbert
• Persimmon leaves

They largely feed on leaves and meal from the mentioned plants. Although they are not considered rare, they face a few challenges:

1. Destruction of their natural habitat
2. Climate change
3. Predators, like the cecropia moth

Importance and Protection

The hickory horned devil plays a vital role in their ecosystem. They are important for:

• Plant pollination
• Serving as a food source for other species

Protection efforts for these creatures are also important because they help maintain a balanced ecosystem. Regulated hunting and wildlife conservation efforts, such as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, focus on long-term management that benefits a wide range of species, including the hickory horned devil.

Preserving their natural habitats and implementing adaptive resource management processes are crucial steps for ensuring their survival. By protecting and conserving these insects, we contribute to the overall health and balance of their ecosystems.

Reader Emails

Over the years, our website, whatsthatbug.com has received hundreds of letters and some interesting images asking us about these insects. Scroll down to have a look at some of them.

Letter 1 – MYSTERY: Hickory Horned Devil, but IN AUSTRALIA?????

Subject:  Wierd looking bug appearedin my backyard
Date: 03/20/2021
Time: 01:49 AM EDT
Geographic location of the bug:  Australia, Victoria
Your letter to the bugman:  Hi! The other day this weird bug was eating my flowers so I carefully picked it up and put it on the sidewalk. Can you please try to figure out what it is?
How you want your letter signed:  Thanks, from TheBugQueen

Dear TheBugQueen,
Had you sent this email today, we would have thought for sure that you were pranking us on April Fool’s Day, but you sent this identification request in over a week and a half ago.  This is a Hickory Horned Devil, the caterpillar of the Royal Walnut Moth, but it is not native to Australia.  This species is native to eastern North America.  We have no idea how it got to Australia.  Perhaps there is a Saturniid fancier in your neighborhood who raised specimens and some escaped.  To the best of our knowledge, there are no known populations of Citheronia regalis naturalized in Australia.  We are tagging this as a mystery.

Letter 2 – Moth Pupa: Possibly Regal Moth or Imperial Moth

Big Cacoon
Location: Southren WI
May 29, 2011 9:35 am
My Daughter found this in the woods behind our house (southren WI). She is a bug nut and asked me what it was. We have looked in several books but can’t figure it out. Its alive and moving and the topic of all talk at our house. We would love to know what it is.
Signature: Michael Roehl

Dear Michael,
This is definitely a Moth Pupa and it is a large moth.  We do not believe it is a Sphinx Moth Pupa, though they bury themselves underground to pupate.  We are more inclined to identify this as a Giant Silkmoth Pupa, more specifically a Royal Moth Pupa in the subfamily Ceratocampinae, possibly an Imperial Moth or a Regal Moth.  Here is a matching photo of an unidentified Royal Moth pupa from BugGuide for comparison.  Here is a photo of an Imperial Moth Pupa from BugGuide and here is a photo of a Regal Moth Pupa from BugGuide.  You can see the similarities, though our inclination is to favor the Imperial Moth.  We love your photograph, especially the thoughtfulness of having the model change into an insect themed wardrobe.

Daniel,
Thanks so much for taking the time to help us out. My daughter is thrilled, who new you could have so much fun with a pupa. We have it in a “Critter Cage” if it hatches sucsessfully I will send you a picture.
Michael

Letter 3 – More Regal Moth Pupae

You wanted C regalis pupae photos? 🙂
Hi Bugman,
Love your site. I’m sure your comment that you don’t have many HHD pupae will prompt a flood, so I’m adding to it. I also have a couple of moths from Taiwan for ID I’m attaching: 1st: appears to be an Arctiid, tried searching with “clear winged” / “Taiwan” and did not locate anything. Location: Sun-Moon lake, Nantou county 2nd: attracted to lights at ~ 3000 ft. Location: Nantou county Thanks for your thoughts. Photos taken with Sony DSC-H2, auto, macro mode, cropped and resized with Microsoft Paint.
Ray

Hi Ray,
Your letter is so funny. We were hardly deluged with photos of Regal Moth or Royal Walnut Moth Pupae, but we did get two submissions. Your photo is wonderful. We have been very busy and are way behind in posting new submissions. We will try to address your Arctiid questions in the future.

Letter 4 – Citheronia splendens sinaloensis Caterpillar

Subject: Large caterpillar
Location: Southern AZ
August 19, 2017 10:04 am
We live in southern AZ had have these giant greenish gray (photo attachment) and tan version of this attached caterpillar on our AZ cotton. Are they the Horned devil caterpillar?
Signature: Len Nowak

Dear Len,
You are quite observant to notice the similarities between your caterpillar and the Hickory Horned Devil, but that species is found only as far west as Texas according to BugGuide information.  Your individual looks so similar because it is a close relative in the same genus Citheronia splendens sinaloensis, a moth with no common name.  The adult moth, which is pictured on BugGuide, is a darker, duller variation on the adult Royal Walnut Moth, the adult Hickory Horned Devil.

A small sampling…
Signature:  Len Nowak

Thanks for the additional images Len.  The new “Arizona Devil” image is a wonderful addition to your previous posting.

Letter 5 – Hickory Horned Devil

He fell from the tree
Hi There!
This amazing Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar fell from a tree onto our Brick steps yesterday. Before we actually knew what he was, he appeared quite vicious when probed, but after looking for him on the internet using the words HORNED and CATERPILLAR to search, we knew we had found our bug. Our daughter is facinated with him and so we kept him overnight, making a terrarium in a large bowl for him. He burrowed into the soil last night and she is now very sad. Our question to you is….while we captured him in a jar, he excreted a fairly large amount of brown liquid. Was this natural (excrement) or was this a neccessary fluid for pupation? We are worried that it may have been hurt during the fall. He fell a good bit of the way from the tree above, and like I said, onto BRICK. We don’t know if he is hurt or just pupating. Please help if you can. Thank You.
Lynn
Beaufort, SC

Hi Lynn,
Hickory Horned Devils are rarely noticed until they drop from the trees to bury themselves underground where they pupate.

Letter 6 – Hickory Horned Devil

Hickory Horned Devil or Royal (or Regal) Walnut Moth Caterpillar Photo
Hi – My 8-year-old twins found this caterpillar on the street in front of our house (Aug. 21, 2008, Virginia Beach, VA) – we’re not sure what happened to it… Initially we thought he’d been run over (his mouthparts seem a bit damaged and there was liquid surrounding him – and very tiny ants were attacking him) but he didn’t really appear squished. We brought him in, rinsed off the ants and read a bit about him (which suggests that perhaps he fell out of a tree preparing to pupate and fell a bit too hard?) – and filled a jar with soft soil and what I hope are walnut leaves. He’s got a broken horn or two, and I’m not sure if he’ll make it (not sure what damage he’s sustained), but he is still moving around a little. Hopefully he’ll make it (we were afraid to leave him outside because the ants find him too attractive). Thanks for your site – my family and I use it almost every day to identify all the cool bugs in our yard!
Monica

Hi Monica,
Your Hickory Horned Devil would also be an attractive snack for birds and other predators. There is no way of knowing what caused the trauma. We received three images of Hickory Horned Devils today, and expect to get many more in the next month.

Letter 7 – Hickory Horned Devil: Third Instar

Hickory Horned Devil Variation?
Greetings,
I found this little beauty while walking around our farm on a photography stroll. The reddish/plum color caterpillar was on a sweetgum. I’ve looked around the .net and found no specimens that looked like this one….excpet for the Hickory Horned Devil. Could not find one unless it was green in color, but the markings and the horns were almost identical on some of the photographs I saw. Photo taken on September 3, 2007
Jose

Hi Jose,
This is a Hickory Horned Devil in its third instar. Caterpillars go through five instars as they grow, each time shedding their skin and changing appearance. In some species the change is quite dramatic. In two more molts, your specimen will be much larger and have the characteristic blue green coloration with red horns of the fifth instar, fully grown Hickory Horned Devil. BugGuide has a nice series of images from egg to final instar.

Letter 8 – Hickory Horned Devil: What's That Bug? "is much better than playing Playstation"!!!

Huge, Crazy Looking Caterpillar
Hi there,
Perhaps you can help. My son and I found this on Sunday, August 26, at a park in Irwin, Pennsyvlania. We almost stepped on this thing. We look for bugs all the time and have never seen anything like this. We did not keep it nor touch it. Do you know what it is? Sincerely,
Amy Vandermer and Mason (age 7)

Hickory Horned Devil

Ed. Note: Since we don’t have the time to post every submission that is sent our way, we sometimes just make a quick reply (see above). In this case, posting two additional images of Hickory Horned Devils in the past 24 hours prompted our decision not to post this letter. Then we got the following response, which is so endearing, that we rescued the original letter and photograph from the trash.

Thanks so much! Your Site is Awesome!
Thanks so much. We actually spent the rest of the evening on your website and found what the answer was. My son was so excited about your site after baseball all he wanted to do was look at bugs and drawn his own pictures. You might be happy to know that a 7 year old, second grader actually said . . . . . . “this is so much better than playing Playstation!” . . . his last words before bed were “after school tomorrow I’m coming straight home to identify more bugs!” You guys are awesome!
Amy

Letter 9 – Hickory Horned Devil

what is this?
Hey Bugman! My daughter and I saw this bug/worm (pic enclosed). Thought it may be a tomato bug but much larger than I’ve ever seen and what about the horns? Hope you can help. Thanks,
Brent Connors

Hi Brent,
The fierce looking but harmless Hickory Horned Devil is generally regarded as North America’s largest caterpillar. It has probably come down from the trees where it has been feeding so it can burrow into the ground to pupate, the next step in its metamorphosis into the lovely Royal Walnut Moth. We have had readers say the Hickory Horned Devil resembles a Chinese Dragon.

Letter 10 – Hickory Horned Devil

Can you help?
Hi. Please see attached photo. We found it in our woods and we have never seen anything like it. We were wondering if you could identify him and let us know what he will become. Its almost as big as my husband’s hand! Not sure what tree it was on. We have a lot of sweetgum and poplar. Thanks so much for your help.
Jennifer Poggemann
Southeastern Indiana

Hi Jennifer,
This is a Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar. Several weeks ago we commented that we expected to see more requests for their identification this year because of the large numbers of adult moth images, the Royal Walnut Moth.

Letter 11 – Hickory Horned Devil: Early instars

Hickory Horned Devil
Hey,
I’ve found your site to be a wealth of knowlege and information, which is a nice resource since i want to be an entomologist. Anyway, a friend of mine found an adult regalis at a light in mid-July in Maryland which laid eggs. I asked for a couple larvae when they hatched and she gave me 8 healthy 1st instar caterpillars on sweetgum. They of course grew, but i lost 4 while they were shedding into the next instar. Is this common with regalis? So i have four left, 1 third instar, 2 third about to shed into fourth, and 1 fourth instar. I also switched them from sweetgum to norway maple when they became third instars for convenience reasons. They LOVE it. I thought that you would like some pics of the larvae. I was also fortunate enough to land a female luna on August 10th. I have about 100 beautiful first instar larvae which i have feeding on my poor sweetgum sapling. I’ll send some pics of them when they get big enough.
Josh

Hi Josh,
Sorry that we cannot provide mortality rate information on Hickory Horned Devils. Thank you so much for providing images of early instar caterpillars for our site.

Letter 12 – Hickory Horned Devil: Early Instar

Large spiny caterpillar with horns?
Hi
We found this in our back yard and were unable to find it in any of our guide books. Then we searched online and found nothing. Can you tell us what it is? More curious about what it is going to be?? Thanks so much Sincerely
the Braun family in Fredericksburg Virginia

Hi Braun Family,
This is an early instar of the Hickory Horned Devil. What it will be after a few more molts is North America’s largest and quite possibly most impressive caterpillar. It will become a bright blue-green behemoth with red horns that resembles a Chinese dragon. The adult moth is also quite striking. It is known as the Royal Walnut Moth or Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis.

Letter 13 – Hickory Horned Devil

Large Horned caterpillar
We found this caterpillar on a tree in our yard. We live close to Houston, TX and have never seen a caterpillar this large before. Can you identify it and let us know what it is?
Marlys Dow

Hi Marlys,
The spectacular Hickory Horned Devil will become the equally spectacular Royal Walnut Moth.

Letter 14 – Hickory Horned Devil: First Submission of the year other than hatchlings

Is this a cousin to the Hickory Horned Devil?
I found this on my driveway and cannot determine what type of Caterpillar it is. It looks like the Hickory Horned Devil, but, is smaller and yellow. Do you have any idea what it is, and what it will turn into?

We are not upholding our recent threat to directly trash all letters without locations for the simple reason that we are delighted to be posting our first Hickory Horned Devil of the year. It is a wonderful photo. The fact that you found this Devil on the ground instead of a tree indicates it is probably getting ready to pupate. Just before pupation, many caterpillars change colors. We expect to receive many more images in September.

Sorry about that. I live in Herndon Virginia.
Gerald

Letter 15 – Hickory Horned Devil

Can you identify this?
Found under the shrubs in my neighbor’s yard in North FL.
The shell and spines are hard, it seems aggressive when you get near it. The quarter is for size approximation.
Joe

Hi there Joe,
The caterpillar of the lovely Royal Walnut Moth is the fierce looking but harmless Hickory Horned Devil.

Letter 16 – Last Year's Hickory Horned Devil

Thought I’d share…
Hello,
I stumbled across your website while doing some research on sand wasps and I figured you should have one of my pictures! It’s a Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar. I found it last year at the day camp I work at and thought it was the coolest ever! Hope you all can use it.
Simon Mahan

Hi Simon,
We usually get our Hickory Horned Devil photos in September. We just got an image of the adult Royal Walnut Moth this week. Your photo will be a nice prelude to this year’s images. Thank you.

Letter 17 – Hickory Horned Devil

heres a pic for you
I didnt know how to upload a photo to your site, so i hope this is ok. We have been everwhere on the internet, tring to find what this caterpillar was called. And thanks to your site we now know. I hope you can use the picture. I have a few more if you would like them. Thanks again.
bbscarvic and family

Hi BB,
Thanks for your head-on view of a Hickory Horned Devil. The time and effort we spend posting all letters and images ourselves allow us to control content as well as aesthetics. Thanks for your contribution.

Letter 18 – Hickory Horned Devil

Again, this is a catepillar encountered on a dry riverbed at the Walls of Jericho in Tennessee.
http://nature.org/success/jericho.html
It’s about six inches long and one inch wide.
Thanks

We misplaced your original email which happens when photos are not attached to the text. This is a Hickory Horned Devil. There was one on our homepage if you had looked.

Letter 19 – Hickory Horned Devil

caterpillar photos
Hi there fellow bug lover,
Thought you might like these photos that I took yesterday. I’m a horticulturist at a garden center in Lake Charles, LA. A customer came in with this wonderful Hickory Horned Devil specimen to see if we could identify it for her. It had been devouring her pecan tree. She was pretty concerned because we had already lost so many large trees last year to Hurricane Rita. I gave her the link to your website and advised her to let big ol’ “George” free to resume fulfilling his ravenous appetite…preferably far back in the woods behind her house. He was really a beauty! Hope you enjoy the photos.
Lu Hoffman
Landscape Maintenance Manager
Greengate Garden Center

Hi Lu,
We have already decided to profile the Hickory Horned Devil as the Bug of the Month for September.

Letter 20 – 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!

Letter 21 – 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.

Letter 22 – Hickory Horned Devil

I would like to provide you with decent photos of the “Hickory Horned Devil”
I thought you may like a nice shot of this little critter (well, since its the largest in America, he’s not so little)
Anyway, Thanks for the info, you guys are how I found out what this guy was!! Please, if you can, reply so I will know where to go see my pics, if you use them!! Thanks again!br> Tasha L. Holden
Powder Springs, GA

Hi Tasha,
When we first post letters, on an average of 4 per day, they go to our homepage at www.whatsthatbug.com and afterwards, they are added to the extensive archive devoted to more specific pages. You will continue to find your letter and image on Caterpillars 7.

Letter 23 – Hickory Horned Devil: Early Instar

Are you still identifying bugs?
Hello,
I’m not sure if you’re still identifying bugs or not, but there is a spectacular looking caterpillar that arrived on my balcony a few days ago, and I’d like to know more about it. If it helps in the identification, I live just outside Atlanta, Georgia. Normally my cat eats the bugs on the balcony (mainly roaches…thanks, kitty), but both times kitty put her paw to the back of this caterpillar, it reared up. For some reason, that made kitty leave it alone. I wondered if maybe the spines were irritating or her paw (because surely she wasn’t threatened by that). Also, I’m wondering whether I should perhaps move the caterpillar back down to where the leaves and plants are. I’m on the 3rd floor of an apartment building, and there is no caterpillar food on my balcony. Thanks for any information and advice you can offer,
Krista

Hi Krista,
This is an early instar of our featured Bug of the Month, The Hickory Horned Devil. The caterpillars molt four times before attaining their full size, the fifth instar right before pupation. Earlier instars are brown, not green. We believe this is the third instar as shown on BugGuide.

Letter 24 – Hickory Horned Devil: First example this year

What’s that bug
I almost stepped on this one in my backyard, just north of Atlanta, Georgia. I let it go back in the woods after I took this picture. What’s that bug? Thanks,
Adam Kirkley

Hi Adam,
This is a Hickory Horned Devil, the caterpillar of the Royal Walnut Moth. This is very early in the year for this caterpillar. We get numerous photos each year, generally in September.

Letter 25 – Hickory Horned Devil

Strange Variation of HHD
Hi. I ran across your site as my three year old and I are trying to put a name to some of the tiny creatures around our Florida home. I have seen the Hickory Horned Devil Catapillar many times but none of them look like ours. Please tell us if we have a true HHD or something else. Thanks so much. (See attached.)
Have a blessed day!
Jacilyn Wheeler

Hi Jacilyn,
Your Hickory Horned Devil looks like a normal fifth instar caterpillar. Perhaps those you saw previously were younger caterpillars, but as you did not describe the difference, we are uncertain. At any rate, it is wonderful to have your gorgeous, yet typical, Hickory Horned Devil to add to our archives. As we are currently transitioning our site, the image will not go live until we finish the site migration.

Letter 26 – Hickory Horned Devil: First sighting of the season

8 inch black-spiked, green bodied, red horned Dragon Caterpillar
August 17, 2009
I found this huge creature in my Virginia Beach grassed yard.
F. Davis
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Dear F. Davis,
Despite the blurriness of your images, the Hickory Horned Devil is immediately recognizable.  The Hickory Horned Devil, along with other stunning insects like the Luna Moth and Dobsonfly, always thrill us when we receive the first photos of the season.  The Hickory Horned Devil is the caterpillar of the equally stunning Royal Walnut Moth.  Though 8 inches is something of an exaggeration, the Hickory Horned Devil is an enormous caterpillar.  It is perfectly harmless.

Letter 27 – Hickory Horned Devil

horned caterpiller
August 24, 2009
Hello,
Some friends and I were taking a walk in Hemlock gorge in Maryland and we came across a very strange caterpiller. It was on a chunk of tree bark which was on top of a large rock in a stream.
Jason
Hemlock Gorge Maryland

Hi Jason,
We always enjoy posting the first Hickory Horned Devil photographs of the season, and your photo is neither the first nor the second we received, but it is the most detailed.  Thanks for sending us this gorgeous Hickory Horned Devil photograph.

Letter 28 – Hickory Horned Devil

WHAT IS THIS?
September 1, 2009
PLEASE – TELL ME – ME DOG WANTED TO EAT IT – LOOKED DANGEROUS!
BRANDY
BRICK, NJ 08724

Hi BRANDY,
Though it looks quite fierce, the Hickory Horned Devil, the caterpillar of the lovely Royal Walnut Moth, is quite harmless.

Letter 29 – Hickory Horned Devil

Damselfly or not?
October 13, 2009
I found this bug at my grandma’s house. At first I thought he was a dragonfly. He’s brown and has multiple wings. My mom thinks he is a damselfly. Can you help us? also, I am sending 2 pictures of a garden spider and Hickory Horned Devil.
Thanks!
Scarlett
McAlpin, Florida

Hi Scarlett,
We already wrote back to you to tell you that the damselfly is actually an Antlion.  In trying to select letters for posting today, we would much rather post your photo of the Hickory Horned Devil since we did not receive as many nice photos of this spectacular caterpillar as we have in past years.

Letter 30 – Hickory Horned Devil

Square Eyed Hornworm
May 29, 2010
Found this amazing and ugly fellow on a Vitex agnus-castus nibbling away. He was up high in the tree and I only saw one. It is May in Wharton, Texas. He is between 3 1/2″ and 4″ long. I haven’t a clue. I wish I was a better photographer. My neighbor took some pictures – if I get them (and they should be better) I will send them on. I looked through all of your hornworms and didn’t see him, but then again, maybe he isn’t a hornworm. Thanks so much for this site. I have used it sooooo many times.
Carolyn
Wharton, Texas

Hi Carolyn,
This is extremely early in the year for us to receive a photo of a Hickory Horned Devil, the caterpillar of the Royal Walnut Moth.  Typically, we get the first Hickory Horned Devil photos around August.  The Hickory Horned Devil is not a Hornworm, but a rather one of the Silkworm Moths.

Hello Daniel!  Thank you so much for identifying the Hickory Horned Devil for me. I am so glad that he is a good guy and belongs here – even if he is a little early. I am attaching two photos from my neighbor, Kevin. They are delightful and I hope you enjoy them.  Thanks again. Carolyn

Hi again Carolyn,
Thanks so much for sending more focused images.  Our readership will appreciate the clarity.

Letter 31 – Hickory Horned Devil: What would Darwin think???

mean green bug
Location:  kentucky
August 22, 2010 5:32 pm
hello…i was travleing out of greenbo lake state park in kentucky …on the road was a app. 6” lime green..possible catapilar..it had horns down its back and on it’s head…ive never seen anything like this…hope to be able to send you a photo…..
James Kinney

Hi James,
The Hickory Horned Devil is the largest caterpillar in North America.

You all are great….. I just recently got me a laptop and i have tried some different sights for different things (games,screensvares .etc) they ALL seem  to have some kind of catch…..you’re sight gave me exactly what i wanted with NO hidden agenda….I really appreciate this and when i can i will help in any way i can, again, thank you.    P.S. That bug was awesome,my whole family loved it 🙂

We do have an agenda James, but it is not hidden.  We abhor Unnecessary Carnage and we strive to promote tolerance of the lower beasts.  We believe everyone should read “On the Origin of Species” before making an opinion about it.

Letter 32 – Hickory Horned Devil

Pics of Hickory Horned Devil
Location:  Charlotte NC
August 31, 2010 8:56 am
Thought you might like some additional pics of this horned devil. He was on a nearby tree at the welcome table at the Hummingbird Festival (Charlotte NC) this past weekend (Sat. Aug. 28). It amazed everyone that got to see it.
Michael

Hi Michael,
Thanks for providing us with your excellent images of a Hickory Horned Devil.  The “portrait” is a perspective we do not often see.

Letter 33 – Hickory Horned Devil attacked by Cardinal

Hickory Horned Devil vs. Cardinal

Hickory Horned Devil vs. Cardinal
Location:  Columbia, Maryland
September 4, 2010 4:21 pm
This was a battle between a Cardinal and a Hickory Horned Devil. After many attacks, the Cardinal finally gave up and flew away.
Signature:  Edwin

Hi Edwin,
Thanks for supplying our website with this marvelous documentation.  Without birds, our planet would probably soon be defoliated since there are so many insects that feed upon plants.  This looks like a young cardinal and a more mature bird would probably not have given up so quickly.  The Hickory Horned Devil does not look like it weathered the attack very well.

Letter 34 – Hickory Horned Devil found in Bed!!!!

Horny Caterpillar?
Location: Ohio
February 10, 2011 8:13 am
This bug was found inside the house, under the bed covers! Friends are laughingly calling it the ”horny caterpillar” … can you enlighten us please?
Signature: photogirl800mm

Hi photogirl800mm,
Awesome.  This is a Hickory Horned Devil, the larva of the Royal Walnut Moth, and it is the largest Caterpillar in North America.  Your letter did not indicate if this was a recent discovery (which we doubt) or if it was found in bed last autumn.  We did not get as many submissions of Hickory Horned Devils this past season as we have in years past.

Letter 35 – Hickory Horned Devil and emergence dates of some Giant Silk Moths

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

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

Letter 36 – Newly emerged Regal Moth

moth/caterpillar
Location: Southeast
May 21, 2011 8:11 pm
My husband and I found this moth/caterpillar in our front yard. I’ve never seen anything like it and can’t find any pictures resembling it on the internet. My pictures do not do it justice! It was bright (almost neon) orange and yellow and about 3 – 4 inches long. It never flew (extremely tiny wings), but just pulled its belly along the grass. The pictures were taken in Charlotte, NC on May 21, 2011 between 8:00 and 8:30pm.
Signature: Ryann

Dear Ryann,
Your impression that this moth was somewhat caterpillar-like can be easily explained.  This is a newly metamorphosed Regal Moth or Royal Walnut Moth.  Its wings have not yet expanded.  The caterpillar, known as a Hickory Horned Devil, is the largest North American Caterpillar, and when it is ready to transform, it buries itself and forms a pupa.  After overwintering, the adult emerges and crawls to the surface.  You were fortunate enough to encounter this Regal Moth at that point in its transformation.

Letter 37 – Hickory Horned Devil

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.

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.

Letter 38 – Pre-Pupal Hickory Horned Devil

Could u help me with this bug please?
Location: Bradstown ky
July 29, 2011 11:49 am
My friend found this caterpillar by the creek in our back yard. The closets thing i can find in your section is the Hickory Horned Devil? I am going to try to keep it and watch it transform but need to know what it is and how to take care of it.
Signature: Sue

Hi Sue,
You are correct.  This is a Hickory Horned Devil, and it is pre-pupal, meaning it is about to pupate.  Hickory Horned Devils pupate underground.  For some reason, this individual did not bury itself.  You can put it in a container with loose earth and lightly bury it.  You will need to keep it from drying out, but the earth should not get soggy.  An adult moth should emerge next June or July.  You should keep it in a sheltered place over the winter that does not get too warm, like an unheated porch or garage.

Letter 39 – 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

Dear Trini and Amii,
This is a Hickory Horned Devil, and it will metamorphose into a Royal Walnut Moth.

Letter 40 – 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

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.”

Letter 41 – 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

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.

Letter 42 – Hickory Horned Devil sighted this past August

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

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.

Letter 43 – 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

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.

Letter 44 – Hickory Horned Devil metamorphoses into Regal Moth

Subject: Regal Moth
Location: Florida
September 19, 2012 9:41 am
So I found a beautiful Hickory horned devil who after a day or so turned into a pupa. She JUST hatched 2 days ago and her wings have not straightened out yet. She also just layed about 50 eggs but I know she has not had a mate yet. Is it possible for those eggs to be fertile, can they mate as catapillars? I have her in a tank with the lid off outside in my screened in porch (the doors are open so a male CAN get in if he wants.
Signature: Stina

Hi Stina,
This is an awesome photograph of a Hickory Horned Devil.  Did the Regal Moth’s wings ever expand?  She may attract a mate with her pheromones.

No her wings never expanded so I was a little worried about her but I guess since they only live a week or so, she’ll be OK. She’s safe where she is anyway and a male can still get in if he wants.
Chrystina

Letter 45 – Hickory Horned Devil

Subject: green worm with horns
Location: Douglasville GA
September 26, 2012 3:49 pm
What looks like a big caterpillar with horns
Signature: normal

Dear normal,
This spectacularly impressive caterpillar is a Hickory Horned Devil.

Letter 46 – Hickory Horned Devil

Subject: Is This Thing from Narnia
Location: Raleigh, NC
August 31, 2013 8:42 am
We found this bug just crawling around near our house in the grass. It looks like it could be some type of catepillar but it’s HUGE. Help?!
Signature: Freaked Out Dude

Dear Freaked Out Dude,
Your photo of a Hickory Horned Devil is awesome.  This is the largest caterpillar in North America.  It feeds on the leaves of hickory, walnut and several other native trees.  The caterpillars are rarely noticed until late in the summer when they leave the trees they are feeding upon and find a suitable place on the ground to dig and pupate.  In the spring, they emerge as adult Royal Walnut Moths.  Some of our readers have compared Hickory Horned Devils to colorful Chinese dragons.  They are perfectly harmless, despite the fearsome appearance.

Letter 47 – Newly Eclosed Royal Walnut Moth

Subject: Is this a moth??
Location: Southeast Pennsylvania
June 27, 2014 12:05 pm
Hi. We found this strange bug in our yard in southeast Pennsylvania and have no idea what it is. His body looks velvety with orange and yellow stripes. His wings are gray with orange lines and some yellow dots. His legs are orange and velvety. His body is about 3″ long and 1 1/4″ wide. He is very unusual! Any information you could give us would be great. Thanks!
Signature: Baffled in PA

Dear Baffled in PA,
This is a recently eclosed Royal Walnut Moth and we can propose two scenarios regarding the stunted wings.  Either the wings have not yet expanded to their full size or the moth has failed to develop into a winged adult because of genetic or environmental reasons.

Letter 48 – Hickory Horned Devil: First report of the season

Subject: What is this
Location: Charlotte, NC
September 6, 2014 8:55 am
Found this caterpillar near my oak tree. It is as round as my thumb which is a size 8 and about 3″ long or more. The photo in Mason jar does not give it justice. I have mist grass and leaves in the jar. Small eggs are on it.
Signature: PG Forney

Dear PG Forney,
Had you captured a less distinctive caterpillar, attempting an identification through this distorted glass bottle probably would have been impossible, but the red horns of this Hickory Horned Devil are clearly visible.  Hickory Horned Devils ” feed on leaves of ash, burning bush, butternut, cotton, gum, hickory, lilac, pecan, persimmon, sumac, sycamore, and walnut” according to BugGuide, so unless you add some of those to the jar instead of the grass, it will surely starve unless it is preparing to pupate.  Often caterpillars leave the plants they are feeding upon when the time for metamorphosis nears.

Letter 49 – Hickory Horned Devil

Subject: Bug
Location: West Viriginia
September 20, 2014 11:42 am
I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of bug this is. Found it crawling out of the ground. Can you help me. Please and thank you.
Signature: Bobbi

Hi Bobbi,
This is a Hickory Horned Devil, the largest North American Caterpillar, and despite its fearsome appearance, it is perfectly harmless as it neither stings nor bites, and it is not venomous or poisonous.  We typically receive numerous reports of sightings in the late summer and early fall, but this year we have received very few reports.  Since this individual was on the ground, we assume it was searching for a likely spot to dig beneath the surface to begin pupation.  The adult Hickory Horned Devil is the spectacular Royal Walnut Moth.

Thank you for the information. I was wondering because my husband and a couple of his friends found it. And they touched it so we was hoping it wasn’t poisonous. Will they live if it had been moved. They didn’t want to kill it and it was near a dead tree they was cutting on.

Your husband and his friends will live.  Relocating the Hickory Horned Devil should not have a negative impact on its survival.

Letter 50 – Hickory Horned Devil

Subject: Not a clue what it is.

Location: Natural Bridge, VA
September 24, 2014 4:06 pm
Our family found this “caterpillar” walking across a trail near the Natural Bridge in Virginia. We don’t know what it is. It’s about 5 1/2 half inches long and as big around as a grown man’s thumb.
Signature: VS

Dear VS,
The Hickory Horned Devil is the largest North American Caterpillar.

Letter 51 – Hickory Horned Devil Hatchling

Subject: Unidentified caterpillar
Location: West Virginia
April 25, 2015 3:51 am
This photo is a year or two old. It was an aggressive caterpillar that raised sex black horns when the branch he was on moved, so I’d call it defensive or aggressive.
Signature: Vanna

Hi Vanna,
Though your image is quite blurry, the shape of this caterpillar is quite distinctive.  We are guessing it was quite small and probably found in late spring.  We believe this is a Hickory Horned Devil hatchling, Citheronia regalis, and you can compare your image to this image on BugGuide.  Most submissions that we receive of Hickory Horned Devils arrive toward the end of summer and they are of mature caterpillars that leave the trees they are feeding upon in search of an appropriate location to dig and pupate.  Hickory Horned Devils are the largest North American caterpillars, and despite a fierce appearance, they are perfectly harmless.  Eventually a Hickory Horned Devil will metamorphose into the gorgeous Royal Walnut Moth or Regal Moth.

Letter 52 – What is the Hickory Horned Devil doing on a Hydrangea???

Subject:  What is this??
Geographic location of the bug:  Charleston, WV
Date: 09/06/2017
Time: 08:28 PM EDT
Just want to know what this crazy thing is. It’s in a hydrangea shrub.
How you want your letter signed:  Cynthia

Dear Cynthia,
Is there a nut tree near the hydrangea???  This is a Hickory Horned Devil, one of the most distinctive looking North American caterpillars.  Early instars are brown, but as the caterpillars grow and molt, they eventually become spectacular, enormous caterpillars that are green, aqua and red, making the Hickory Horned Devil the largest North American caterpillar.  We have never heard of them feeding on hydrangea, so we suspect this individual was dislodged from a more typical food plant and is crawling around to find something to eat.  If there is a nut tree nearby, you should relocate it so it can continue to feed and eventually mature.  According to BugGuide:  “Larvae feed on leaves of ash, burning bush, butternut, cotton, gum, hickory, lilac, pecan, persimmon, sumac, sycamore, and walnut” and if it is really feeding on the hydrangea, that would be an additional food plant.  The adult Royal Walnut Moth it will eventually become is equally spectacular.

Update:  September 17, 2017
It is eating the hydrangea. There are not any nut trees nearby, except for huge oak trees.  There is a second one in another hydrangea on the other side of the porch.

Hi Daniel,
I just wanted to share a couple more photos of the caterpillars I inquired about. My mother actually discovered a second one in another hydrangea bush. They have none of the trees you listed nearby, so were not able to relocate them. However, both are eating, growing and changing colors in the hydrangeas.
Cynthia

Thanks for the update Cynthia. We have not been able to locate any additional information on Hickory Horned Devils eating leaves from hydrangea.

Letter 53 – Hickory Horned Devil

Subject:  Unknown caterpillar
Geographic location of the bug:  East Texas
Date: 10/16/2017
Time: 10:58 AM EDT
I work at a ranch in rusk Texas and I came across this caterpillar and I’ve never seen this kind before kinda want to know what kind it is and if it is poisonous
How you want your letter signed:  Aaron

Dear Aaron,
Despite its fierce appearance, the Hickory Horned Devil is perfectly harmless.  This individual has grown to its maximum size, so it left the hickory, walnut or other food tree and it is searching for a suitable place to dig beneath the surface of the ground to pupate.

Thank you so much you helped a lot I let him go yesterday where I found him.

Letter 54 – Hickory Horned Devil

Subject:  old pic of caterpillar
Geographic location of the bug:  Maryland, usa
Date: 07/11/2019
Time: 10:04 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  While looking through old pics I had taken long ago, found a pic I took maybe in late 70s, early 80s. Never found out what it was. Any ideas? Back then I was afraid to investigate it, I was young, Now I am older and so curious
How you want your letter signed:  jackie

Dear Jackie,
This spectacular caterpillar is a harmless Hickory Horned Devil.

You can disregard my question, found from a friend it is hickory horned devil caterpillar. I had searched everywhere for answers. Figures, as there were 2 hickory trees nearby at the time of the picture. Thanks anyway. Did not want to waste your time!!!!

Letter 55 – Raising a Devil

hickory horned devil
My daughter found a very large hickory horned devil 2 days ago. I found a little information but not anything about how to keep it while waiting for it to come to the adult stage before becoming a royal walnut moth (2 years!)We homeschool and I was hoping to keep it and learn as much as we could from this amazing creature. Please tell me what else I can do for him…. We have him in an extra large (maybe 5 gallon) plastic bug container. We are giving him water on a cotton ball daily. We are giving him fresh leaves twice daily. We put dirt on one side of the container (about 5 inches deep). I had read that they will need to go underground to form their chrysalids. He’s been crawling around everywhere and doing great. He’s almost 6 inches long! Last night he dug a hole and was in it all day. I thought he had begun to chrysalid. Later, this afternoon he came out and he has shrunk! He’s about half the size he was earlier! Is this normal or is he dying? He has since crawled back into his hole. Thanks for the wonderful website and any information you have for me will be great!
Blessings,
Melanie Doris

Hi Melanie,
What a wonderful letter. It sounds like you are doing everything correctly. I would advise to not keep the soil too dry nor too damp once the pupa forms. Keep is sheltered, but guard against a deep freeze. It will need the cold, but in the ground with a snow cover, the pupa does not freeze. Perhaps keep it in a garage with some insulation. Patience is the key. Good Luck.