What Do Hickory Horned Devils Eat? A Friendly Guide to Their Diet

When you come across the caterpillar known as the hickory horned devil, you might find its appearance quite intimidating. However, despite its ferocious looks, these creatures are entirely harmless. As the largest caterpillar in North Carolina, the hickory horned devil can measure almost 5 inches long when fully grown.

These vibrant caterpillars munch on a variety of trees, with their preferred menu consisting of hickory, persimmon, sassafras, sourwood, sumac, sweetgum, sycamore, walnut, and other shade trees source. As they grow, their primary goal is to consume leaves to fuel their transformation into the regal moth, also known as the royal walnut moth.

As fascinating as they are, hickory horned devils aren’t considered harmful to most landscapes. Most trees they feed on can easily recover from their leaf consumption. As a result, your appreciation for these fascinating creatures can be both a visual adventure and a learning experience, all without worrying about their impact on your surroundings.

Hickory Horned Devils: An Overview

The hickory horned devil is a type of caterpillar that belongs to the Citheronia regalis species. Despite its intimidating appearance, this devil caterpillar is actually harmless.

These hickory horned devils are native to North America and have a noticeable presence in the eastern and southern regions. During their larval stage, they primarily feed on leaves from trees such as:

• Hickory
• Walnut
• Pecan
• Persimmon
• Sweetgum

The hickory horned devil caterpillars go through a number of molts as they grow. When mature, they can reach up to 5.5 inches (14 cm) in length. Their unique appearance includes:

• Green, black, and cream markings on their bodies
• Yellow to orange curved horns behind the head
• Light blue markings in some instances

These caterpillars are not dangerous or harmful to humans. In fact, their horns and spines are quite flexible and not poisonous.

So, if you come across a hickory horned devil in your backyard, there’s no need to be alarmed. Just admire its unique appearance and remember that this fascinating creature is just going through its natural life cycle before transforming into a regal moth.

Physical Characteristics

Coloration

The Hickory Horned Devil, also known as the Regal Moth caterpillar, displays a range of vivid colors throughout its life stages. As a larva, it is predominantly green, with yellow, black, brown, and orange accents. Some rare specimens may even exhibit turquoise or grayish hues.

Size and Appearance

The size of hickory horned devils varies depending on their life stage. As caterpillars, they can grow up to 5.5 inches long, making them one of the largest caterpillars in North America. In their adult moth stage, their wingspan can reach an impressive 6 inches.

Caterpillars of the hickory horned devil are known for:

• Large, curved horns on their heads
• Spiky, harmless spines along their bodies
• Distinctive bands of various colors

Notable Traits

Despite their intimidating appearance, hickory horned devils are harmless to humans. They are more known for their fascinating appearance, rather than being a threat.

Some traits of the hickory horned devil include:

• Non-aggressive behavior
• No bite or sting
• Rare sightings due to their nocturnal nature

Egg Stage

The hickory horned devil’s life cycle starts with the egg stage. Female moths lay clusters of eggs on the underside of host plant leaves, such as hickories and walnuts. These eggs are typically cream or light brown in color and hatch into tiny caterpillars within a few weeks. As they grow, the larvae will molt several times, gradually developing the unique coloration and traits that define this remarkable insect.

Habits and Lifestyle

Distribution

The hickory horned devil is a North American moth, commonly found in the eastern half of the United States. Its geographical range spans from central Florida up to Massachusetts, and westward to Missouri, eastern Texas, and parts of New York and New Jersey.

Feeding Habits

You might be surprised to learn that hickory horned devils primarily feed on leaves. Their diet includes a variety of tree leaves from species such as:

• Hickory
• Persimmon
• Sassafras
• Sourwood
• Sumac
• Sweetgum
• Sycamore
• Walnut

These caterpillars are known for their voracious appetite, consuming a significant amount of foliage during their growth period.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of the hickory horned devil is quite fascinating. It starts when a regal moth lays hundreds of eggs. After hatching, the tiny caterpillar begins its journey towards maturity. Over a few weeks, it goes through a series of molts, growing in size until it becomes the large and fearsome creature you might encounter.

As the caterpillar prepares to pupate, it descends from its host tree and burrows into the ground. Here, it forms a pupa and overwinters until the following spring, when it emerges as a fully developed regal moth. Once they emerge and mate, the cycle continues with the next generation of hickory horned devils.

Diet

Primary Food Source

Hickory horned devils are known for their voracious appetite, primarily feeding on leaves. The caterpillars have a strong preference for hickory-type trees such as Carya and Juglans species. These trees provide the main source of nutrition for this caterpillar as it grows.

Examples of favored trees include hickory, walnut, and pecan. Hickory horned devils will feast on leaves from these trees, ensuring they have plenty of energy to continue their development.

Additional Host Plants

In addition to hickory and walnut trees, hickory horned devils may also feed on leaves from a variety of other host plants. Some examples are:

• Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
• Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
• Sumac
• Ash
• Sycamore

Other potential host plants include buttonbush, filbert, and even leaves from some Juglans cinerea trees. Although these plants might not be hickory horned devils’ first choice, they can still provide sustenance when their preferred trees are not available.

Here’s a comparison table of some common host plants:

As you can see, the diet of the hickory horned devil is quite diverse and adaptable. The caterpillar’s ability to feed on a range of host plants ensures that it can find the nutrients it needs to grow and complete its life cycle successfully.

Habitat

Hickory horned devils are usually found in deciduous forests, where they can thrive and find food sources. In these forests, you’ll come across various tree species such as hickory, walnut, and sweetgum – which are some of the primary food sources for these fascinating creatures.

These caterpillars prefer habitats with a mix of tree species like hickory, persimmon, sassafras, sourwood, sumac, sweetgum, sycamore, and walnut, as mentioned on this NC State University page. By living in such environments, hickory horned devils can find plenty of food to sustain their growth.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s a list of some common tree species found in deciduous forests where hickory horned devils thrive:

• Hickory
• Walnut
• Sweetgum
• Persimmon
• Sassafras
• Sourwood
• Sumac
• Sycamore

These habitats provide a safe and nurturing space for the hickory horned devil caterpillars to grow and eventually transform into regal moths. Remember, as you explore deciduous forests, don’t be afraid of these fascinating creatures, as they pose no threat despite their intimidating appearance.

Predators and Threats

The hickory horned devil, scientifically known as Citheronia regalis, is a fascinating caterpillar with striking features, but what sort of predators and threats does it face in its natural habitat?

While you might think its large size and intimidating appearance would deter potential predators, there are some creatures that still pose a threat. For example, birds are known to prey on caterpillars, and the hickory horned devil is no exception. Some bird species, such as woodpeckers and blue jays, may be more likely to target these insects for a meal.

In addition to birds, snakes can also be predators for the hickory horned devil. Although they might not seem like the most obvious threat, snakes that are able to climb trees in search of prey may find these large caterpillars an appealing target.

When discussing predators, it’s important to also consider parasitic wasps. These insects lay their eggs inside caterpillars, and when the eggs hatch, the wasp larvae feed on the host. In some cases, hickory horned devils may fall victim to these parasitic insects, making them another potential threat.

It’s worth noting the following key points about the predators and threats faced by hickory horned devils:

• Birds, snakes, and parasitic wasps are the main predators.
• Despite their size and appearance, hickory horned devils are still a target for certain species.
• Climbing snakes may pose a particular risk due to their ability to reach the caterpillars’ natural habitat.

While the hickory horned devil does face some challenges in the form of predators and other threats, its unique appearance and size can also act as a deterrent for some potential foes. Keep an eye out for these fascinating insects and be sure to give them the respect they deserve.

Moth Stage

Regal Moth

The hickory horned devil goes through a pupation stage in the soil before emerging as an adult moth, commonly known as the regal moth or the royal walnut moth. These moths are quite large and are a part of the Citheronia genus.

Their bodies have a distinct coloration, with rusty-orange hues mixed with yellow bands. You’ll notice that the forewings of the regal moth have grayish and rusty-orange stripes, alongside large yellow spots. In comparison, their hindwings lean more towards the orange side, with even larger yellow markings.

Here are some key features of the regal moth:

• Part of the Citheronia genus
• Also known as the royal walnut moth
• Rusty-orange body with yellow bands
• Grayish forewings with rusty-orange stripes and yellow spots
• Orange hindwings with large yellow markings

During the moth stage, the regal moth does not consume any food. As an adult, its primary purpose is reproduction. So, if you were wondering what hickory horned devils eat during the moth stage, the answer is simple – they don’t.

The hickory horned devil transforms from a large, colorful caterpillar to a beautiful moth. Its primary purpose is reproduction, but in this final stage, it doesn’t consume any food. So, enjoy the sight of this fascinating creature knowing that it has no dietary needs during its moth stage!

Interactions with Humans

As a fascinating creature, hickory horned devils might pique human curiosity. Despite their ferocious appearance, these caterpillars are harmless, and their horns and spines are flexible to the touch, not very sharp, and not poisonous.

You might encounter hickory horned devils on certain trees, as their diet consists of leaves from various tree species like hickory, walnut, and sweetgum. According to research conducted by the University of Florida, you don’t need to worry about these creatures damaging trees, as they usually don’t occur in large enough numbers to cause significant defoliation.

While hickory horned devils might appear frightening, educating yourself and others about these creatures can help dispel misconceptions. They play a valuable role in the ecosystem, and their adult form—the regal moth—is an attractive addition to our natural environment.

In summary, your interactions with hickory horned devils can be quite interesting and educational, as long as you approach these creatures with respect and curiosity.

Trivia and Additional Facts

The hickory horned devil is known as the largest caterpillar in North America and belongs to the Citheronia genus. It is part of the Saturniidae family and the Ceratocampinae subfamily. Some of its relatives include the cecropia moth, another giant among moth species.

These fascinating creatures have a life cycle that includes devouring plant leaves. The hickory horned devil commonly feeds on the leaves of walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon, and sweet gum trees. As they grow, their appearance is marked by the presence of prominent spikey horns. However, despite their intimidating look, they are harmless.

While in their larval stage, these caterpillars will shed their skin several times. To move into the next stage of their lifecycle, hickory horned devils will display a unique behavior. They form themselves into a distinct J-shape and burrow into the ground where they eventually pupate within a cocoon.

In the Lepidoptera order of insects, hickory horned devils and their adult version, the regal moth, were first described by Fabricius in 1793. These fascinating moths utilize pheromones to communicate with potential mates and are generally nocturnal, making them rare to spot during the day.

A quick comparison of the hickory horned devil and the cecropia moth larvae:

So, the next time you encounter a hickory horned devil caterpillar, keep in mind its unique features and fascinating life cycle. Remember, despite its scary appearance, it is harmless and plays an important role in the ecosystem by controlling plant growth and serving as prey for other wildlife.