Subject: Caterpillar ID ?
Geographic location of the bug: Western NC
Date: 09/11/2017
Time: 01:39 PM EDT
I discovered the caterpillar in the attached photo over the weekend at my home in Western NC – and was wondering what it is ?
any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated
Thank you
How you want your letter signed: Don Underwood
Dear Don,
This impressive caterpillar is an Imperial Moth Caterpillar and its orange color indicates it is pre-pupal. It has recently come down from the deciduous or coniferous tree upon which it was feeding. According to BugGuide: “Larvae feed on leaves of Bald Cypress, basswood, birch, cedar, elm, hickory, Honeylocust, maple, oak, pine, Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), sycamore, walnut. Adults do not feed.”