Nature Trivia, Caterpillars of Arkansas

Nature Trivia
Caterpillars of Arkansas
By: Renn Tumlison and Kristen Benjamin

Caterpillars are the larval stage of butterflies and moths. Their worm-like appearance is modified by stripes, bars, bristles, and hairs - often with brilliant colors. Spines of caterpillars of some moths are toxic, so handling them can result in a stinging sensation. Some species are easily identified, but most are small and so variable as they age that identification can be difficult. Photos were taken by Renn Tumlison, unless otherwise indicated.

Moth Larvae

Family Saturniidae (Giant Silkworm and Royal Moth Caterpillars)

Hickory_horned_devil Hickory_Horn_Devil

Citheronia regalis
Hickory Horned Devil

Luna_caterpillar Actias luna caterpillar2

Actias luna
Luna Moth Caterpillar
Left photo courtesy of Dr. Ingo Schranz. Image at right contributed by Dan Scheiman.

Polyphemus_Moth_Caterpillar Polyphemus moth caterpillar

Antheraea polyphemus
Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar

Imperial_moth_caterpillar Eacles_imperialis_caterpillar

Eacles imperialis
Imperial Moth Caterpillar


Hyalophora cecropia Cecropia Moth Caterpillar The caterpillar pictured in the photograph at right is an older specimen than that shown in the left image; shortly after the photograph was taken, it began to spin a cocoon in which to pupate.


Hemileuca maia Buck Moth Caterpillar	Automeris io Io Moth Caterpillar

Family Arctiidae (Tiger Moth Caterpillars)


Halysidota tessellaris Banded Tussock Moth Caterpillar	Euchaetes egle Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar Image courtesy of Cindy Thornton.


Halysidota harrisii Sycamore Tussock Moth Caterpillar Photograph at right courtesy of Carolyn Chentnik.


Pyrrharctia isabella Woolly Bear (Isabella Tiger Moth Caterpillar)	Spilosoma congrua Agreeable Tiger Moth Caterpillar


Spilosoma virginica Yellow Bear (Virginian Tiger Moth Caterpillar) Photograph courtesy of Cindy Thornton.	Hyphantria cunea Fall Webworm

Family Geometridae (Looper, Inchworm, and Spanworm Caterpillars)

Wavy-lined Emerald Caterpillar

Synchlora aerata
Camouflaged Looper (Wavy-lined Emerald)

Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moth Caterpillars)


Harrisimemna trisignata Harris's Three Spot Caterpillar	*Acronicta impleta* Yellow-haired Dagger Moth Caterpillar


*Acronicta americana* American Dagger Moth Caterpillar	*Acronicta americana* American Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Family Lasiocampidae (Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moth Caterpillars)


Malacosoma americanum Eastern Tent Caterpillar	Malacosoma disstria Forest Tent Caterpillar Specimen courtesy of Ian Manning.

Family Limacodidae (Slug Moth Caterpillars)

Saddleback_caterpillar

Acharia stimulea
Saddleback Caterpillar

Family Lymantriidae (Tussock Moth Caterpillars)

White-marked tussock moth

Orgyia leucostigma
White-marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Family Megalopygidae (Flannel Moth Caterpillars)

Larval_stage_of_flannel_moth

Megalopyge crispata
Black-waved Flannel Moth Caterpillar

Family Notodontidae (Prominent Moth Caterpillars)


Schizura ipomoeae Morning Glory Prominent (Checkered-Fringe Prominent)	Schizura ipomoeae Morning Glory Prominent (Checkered-Fringe Prominent) The caterpillar eats out a portion from the edge of the leaf, then positions itself in that notch to continue feeding. From a little distance, the brown and green coloration resembles a dead, curled border on a leaf, which serves as the caterpillar's form of camouflage.