Subject: Some kind of Prominent?
Geographic location of the bug: Purdys, Nee York
Date: 09/27/2017
Time: 08:26 AM EDT
Failed to find this caterpillar on several sites and David Wagner’s beautiful book. Found it crawling on our driveway mid-September. Overhead were Japanese Maple, Dogwood, Red Maple, Elm, with many other species in vicinity.
How you want your letter signed: L Jones
Dear L. Jones,
We really must commend you on figuring out that this is a Prominent Moth Caterpillar from the family Notodontidae. We believe it resembles this Mottled Prominent, Macrurocampa marthesia, that is pictured on BugGuide. According to BugGuide: “larvae feed on leaves of beech, maple, oak, and other deciduous trees” so the trees you observed most likely have provided a food source for your individual.
Wow. Exactly! A bit embarrassed I missed that. Thanks a bunch!
Lauretta