Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar Facts: Unveiling Nature’s Strangest Critters

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The hickory horned devil caterpillar is a fascinating and unique creature in the world of insects. As the largest caterpillar in North America, it can grow up to six inches in length, making it an interesting subject for nature enthusiasts. The hickory horned devil is the larva of the regal moth and feeds on various types of trees like walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon, and sweet gum trees.

Despite its intimidating appearance with large, curved horns and vibrant colors, the hickory horned devil caterpillar is actually harmless to humans. Its transformation into the regal moth is equally impressive, with the adult moth being nocturnal and displaying eye-catching patterns and colors.

In this article, we will explore fascinating facts about the hickory horned devil caterpillar, including its life cycle, habitat, and unique features, as well as its benefits to the ecosystem. So, let’s delve into the wonderful world of this intriguing insect.

Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar: An Overview

Physical Appearance

The Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar is known for its unique and intimidating appearance. This caterpillar is predominantly green with a mix of black, yellow, and orange colors. Its most striking features include:

  • Large size, growing up to 5 inches long
  • Paired rows of black spines on its back
  • Yellow to orange curved horns just behind the head

Life Cycle

The Hickory Horned Devil’s life cycle has four stages: egg, caterpillar, cocoon, and adult moth. The stages can be summarized as follows:

  • Eggs: Regal moth lays hundreds of eggs
  • Caterpillar: Grows and molts several times, reaching max size
  • Cocoon: Forms a brown pupa within a silk cocoon
  • Adult moth: Transforms into a large regal moth

Behavior

Some key behaviors of the Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar

Citheronia Regalis: The Regal Moth

Physical Characteristics

  • The hickory horned devil (Citheronia regalis) is the largest caterpillar in North America.
  • It starts as a tiny caterpillar and grows to a mature size of around 12.5 to 14 cm in length.

For the adult regal moth, their body is orange with narrow yellow banding 1. One unique feature in their appearance is their furry body. Here’s a quick comparison between male and female regal moths:

Feature Male Regal Moth Female Regal Moth
Pattern and color Same as female Gray, tan, or slightly olive
Wings size and shape Smaller and narrower wings Bigger wings

Wings and Wingspan

The regal moth is characterized by its distinct wings. Their forewings are gray, tan, or slightly olive with orange or reddish-orange veins and pale yellow spots. On the other hand, their hindwings are more orange, usually with a yellow patch at the base 2.

Range and Distribution

The native range of the regal moth extends across much of the eastern half of the United States, including Texas and the Midwest. However, they are more commonly found in the southern parts of the country. The hickory horned devil commonly feeds on the leaves of various trees such as:

  • Walnut
  • Hickory
  • Pecan
  • Persimmon
  • Sweet gum 3

Feeding and Host Plants

Primary Host Plants

Hickory horned devil caterpillars primarily feed on the leaves of different hickory-type trees, such as walnut, hickory, and pecan, among others. These trees are their main source of sustenance.

Secondary Host Plants

Besides the primary host plants, hickory horned devil caterpillars also consume leaves of some secondary host plants, such as persimmon, sweet gum, and sumac trees. They rely on these secondary host plants when their main food sources aren’t available.

Larval Diet

When hickory horned devil caterpillars hatch, they begin their life by eating the leaves of their host plants. As they grow, they continue to feed on the foliage of their preferred trees, which largely include those in the Carya (hickory) and Juglans (walnut) families.

Comparison Table

Host Plant Type Examples Caterpillar Preference
Primary Hickory, Walnut, Pecan Most Preferred
Secondary Persimmon, Sweet Gum, Sumac Less Preferred

Key Features of Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillars:

  • Largest caterpillar in North America
  • Appear fierce but are harmless
  • Primary diet consists of leaves from hickory-type trees
  • Can also feed on secondary host plants when necessary

Characteristics of Primary Host Plants:

  • Belong to Carya and Juglans families
  • Include hickory, walnut, and pecan trees

Characteristics of Secondary Host Plants:

  • Include persimmon, sweet gum, and sumac trees
  • Utilized when primary host plants are scarce or unavailable

Life Stages and Reproduction

Eggs

  • Female regal moths lay hundreds of eggs on host plants, such as hickory and walnut trees.
  • Eggs are small, round, and light green or yellow in color.

Larvae

  • Hickory horned devil is the largest caterpillar in the United States, reaching up to 14 cm in length.
  • Larvae feed on leaves of various trees like walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon, and sweet gum.
  • They have a striking appearance, with orange, black, and blue coloration, and long spiky projections on their heads.

Pupation and Cocoon

  • Mature larvae pupate in soil – they burrow into the ground and create a protective cocoon.
  • Pupa is reddish-brown in color and encased within a silk cocoon.

Adults and Mating

  • Adult regal moths emerge from their cocoons during summer months.
  • They have a wingspan of 9.5-15.5 cm and an orange body with narrow yellow banding.
  • Adults are nocturnal and are attracted to lighting fixtures.
  • Mating occurs shortly after emergence, and adults communicate with each other through the use of pheromones.
Area Common Presence Host Plants
Florida Yes Hickory, walnut, pecan, persimmon, sweet gum
Central Florida Yes Hickory, walnut, pecan, persimmon, sweet gum
Texas Yes Hickory, walnut, pecan, persimmon, sweet gum
Other United States Less common, but present Hickory, walnut, pecan, persimmon, sweet gum

Pros and Cons of Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillars

Pros:

  • Caterpillars are harmless to humans and pets.
  • They help in natural pest control by preying on other insects.

Cons:

  • They can cause defoliation of host trees.
  • Large infestations can be a concern for tree health.

Habitats and Distribution

Geographical Range

The hickory horned devil caterpillar, or Citheronia regalis, can be found throughout the eastern United States. Its range spans from New Jersey and Massachusetts in the north, down to East Texas in the south.

Preferred Habitats

These caterpillars primarily inhabit deciduous forests, where they feed on the leaves of trees such as walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon, and sweet gum1. Here’s a list of their preferred habitats:

  • Deciduous forests
  • Walnut, hickory, and pecan trees
  • Persimmon and sweet gum trees

Comparison Table

Caterpillar Region Habitat Primary Food Source
Hickory Horned Devil Eastern US Deciduous forests Walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon, and sweet gum trees

Conservation and Challenges

Threats and Decline

The hickory horned devil caterpillar, known for its harmless yet unusual appearance, faces a few challenges. Despite being harmless, their ferocious look can lead to them being eradicated by misinformed individuals. These caterpillars are essential for the ecosystem as they contribute to the diet of certain bird species. Their natural habitat mainly consists of walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon, and sweet gum trees. A decline in these trees could pose a threat to their numbers.

Survival Techniques

Hickory horned devil caterpillars are equipped with various survival techniques. Their unique coloration, ranging from blue to turquoise, acts as a camouflage, helping them blend into their surroundings.

Burrowing

One of their most essential survival techniques involves burrowing into the soil or ground. This is where they spend their time during the overwinter stage, sheltering them from harsh weather and potential predators. They typically burrow during late October to mature into regal moths.

Diet and Adaptability

These caterpillars have an adaptive feeding nature, predominantly feeding on the following plants:

  • Rhus (Sumac)
  • Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)
  • Diospyros virginiana (Persimmon)

Adapting to different plants allows them to survive even if one food source becomes scarce. The ability to consume a variety of plants gives them an increased chance to survive potential habitat changes.

Habitat Threats Survival Technique Development Stage
Soil & Ground Habitat Destruction Burrowing October (Overwinter Stage)
Trees Misinformed Individuals Camouflage Larval Stage
Various Plants Food Scarcity Adaptability Larval Stage

Footnotes

  1. (https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/regal_moth.htm) ↩ ↩2
  2. (https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/regal-moth-royal-walnut-moth-hickory-horned-devil) ↩
  3. (https://hgic.clemson.edu/what-is-it-wednesday-hickory-horned-devil-caterpillar/) ↩

 

 

 

 

 


 

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Authors

  • Bugman

    Bugman aka Daniel Marlos has been identifying bugs since 1999. whatsthatbug.com is his passion project and it has helped millions of readers identify the bug that has been bugging them for over two decades. You can reach out to him through our Contact Page.

    View all posts
  • Piyushi is a nature lover, blogger and traveler at heart. She lives in beautiful Canada with her family. Piyushi is an animal lover and loves to write about all creatures.

    View all posts
Tags: Hickory Horned Devil

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6 Comments. Leave new

  • we found one of these in a patk outside Princeton today…it looked a bit injured- on a road. I moved it to dirt.

    Reply
  • Glad I found this website. My husband found this caterpillar in our driveway and had never seen one like this and didn’t know what it was. He gave it to our grandson to take to school to see if they could identify
    Thanks again for this site

    Reply
  • Glad I found this website. My husband found this caterpillar in our driveway and had never seen one like this and didn’t know what it was. He gave it to our grandson to take to school to see if they could identify
    Thanks again for this site

    Reply
  • Thank you very much!! Love your site 🙂

    Reply
  • I saw one of these this morning for the first time. I knew it wasn’t the tomato horn worm because of it’s bright red antenna and it’s size. It was huge. Glad I could find out what it is. Thank you for having a thorough website.

    Reply
  • I love, love, love these!

    Reply

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