These caterpillars measure about 12-14 cm in length, making them the largest caterpillars in North America. Persimmon, Diospyros virginiana L., a host of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius). Larvae have been reported from a variety of host tree species. The imposing larva, known as the hickory horned devil, is most often observed when it is full grown and comes down from the trees to wander in search of a site for pupation. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Sweet, a host of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius). You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not … For detailed host lists, see Heppner (2003) and Robinson et al. For assistance with a specific problem, contact your local Cooperative Extension Center, Publication date: June 21, 2013 The hind wing is mostly orange with a basal yellow spot and yellow patches (or spots) on the costal and anal margins. Krombein KV, Hurd Jr.PD, Smith DR, Burks BD. Close-up of the head of a fully grown hickory horned devil caterpillar of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius). The shiny, dark-brown pupa is about two inches long (or even longer) and is somewhat cylindrical. Introduction and Catalog. The hind wing may also have one to two rows of gray-green spots. American Insects. horns. Right now they are leaving their trees to dig a hole in the ground where they will pupate. Their sheer size is enough to scare most people, even without the horns and spikes. Looked it up and it is a Hickory Horned Devil. Peigler RS. Although it has a ferocious appearance, the hickory horned devil is harmless. Princeton University Press. The forewings of males are pointed toward the tips and narrower than the back wings. It then turns into the Regal Moth, a brown, yellow and orange beauty. The fully-grown hickory horned devil has a brown head, dark green body, black prolegs and numerous spines. Hickory Horned Devil Moth. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida. Which turns into a Regal Moth. 2005. Covell CV. North American Moth Photographers Group. Hickory horned devils are sometimes found on walnut, hickories, pecan, sweetgum, persimmon, and even sumac. 512 pp. Bright green in color with long, red spikes with black tips, the Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar is basically screaming, “STAY AWAY OR ELSE!” The dark areas between the veins are dull gray. Locality (or latitude) where the parent moths were collected was not given, but the author’s address was listed as New Jersey. Hickory horned devil caterpillar, of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius), showing size in relation to an adult human's hand. entomology. The hickory horned devil is North Carolina’s largest caterpillar, measuring almost 5″ long when fully grown. This publication printed on: Feb. 19, 2021. Photograph by Clemson University, www.insectimages.org. In central Florida, larvae are usually found from late July to mid-August while they are wandering on the ground searching for a suitable location to burrow into the soil for pupation. Historically, it was found north to Massachusetts and seems to be declining in numbers in other parts of its range (Wagner 2005). The caterpillar has five pairs of horn-like structures on its thorax and short spikes on the rest of its body. ... hickory horned devil posters. Download this stock image: Citheronia regalis Caterpillar Hickory Horned Devil 5 inches long - A8TBB4 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. lepidoptera. Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar on the street – picture by Blaine Booher It’s the largest caterpillar species in North America, growing to about 6 inches. Receive Email Notifications for New Publications. The regal moth typically has only a single generation per year, although a few late collection records suggest the possibility of a small second brood in the deep south. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida. Using photographs, this article shows the hickory horned devil changing from egg to caterpillar. The caterpillars vary slightly in color, but are commonly blue-green. The body is orange … It is 12.5 to 14 cm in length - about the size of a large hot dog. Arnett RH Jr. 1985. 2005. Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. Moths do not eat. Stehr FW. 1. Credits: Clemson University, www.insectimages.org Figure 6. However, this hickory horned devil a very placid and completely harmless grub. 1979. Martinsville, VA. 496 pp. Nature is pretty amazing…especially in wild, wonderful West Virginia, where you can get up close and personal with hundreds of thousands of acres of it. Pupa (bottom) of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius), and the exuviae (cast skin) (top) of the last larval instar. hickory horned devil sweatshirts & hoodies. Figure 6. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida. It may look ferocious, but it is harmless to people. For about 35 days, the hickory horned devil continuously eats, getting bigger and bigger every day. Immature Insects. Moreover, how big is the hickory horned devil? NC State University and NC insect. 1982. The back wings are rounded, with some yellowish shading at the base. Fully grown hickory horned devil caterpillar, of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius). N.C. Figure 4. Revised: Sept. 23, 2019. 32-33. Are caterpillars harmful? The hind wing may also have one to two rows of gray-green spots. At least six species of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) (Arnaud 1978, Peigler 1994), one species of sarcophagid fly (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) (Peigler 1994), and one species of braconid wasp (Krombein & Hurd 1979) have been reported from Citheronia regalis. Standard fit, order a size down if you prefer less oversized. They are often seen feeding on the leaves of deciduous forest trees, such as hickory, pecan, sweetgum, sumac and persimmon. 1987. p. 515. nom nom. Larva of the pine devil, Citheronia sepulcralis Grote & Robinson, which is sometimes mistaken for the hickory horned devil caterpillar of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius). A few facts about the Hickory Horned Devil: This species lives in the Eastern U.S., from New York south to Central Florida. No need to register, buy now! Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Larva: The hickory horned devil is among the largest of our native saturniid caterpillars. Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua L., a host of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius). Figure 12. 1979. This ferocious-looking caterpillar, which may be five inches long, is harmless. Unidentified sarcophagid fly parasitoids (left) consuming the pupa of a regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius). The second and third thoracic segments each bear two long and two sho… Well, I think your idea of a caterpillar might change forever after you’ve seen the Hickory Horned Devil, the caterpillar of the Regal, or Royal Walnut Moth (Citheronia regalis). Known as the hickory horned devil, it is the largest caterpillar in North America and can measure over five inches long. : You are free: to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work; to remix – to adapt the work; Under the following conditions: attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. The small caterpillars eat very small amounts of foliage, but the later stages consume considerable amounts of leaves. The Hickory Horned Devil, a Fierce but Harmless Caterpillar What it Eats: Caterpillars eat leaves from hickory, walnut, pecan and other trees. Classey Ltd. Middlesex, England. Like most other moths, it is nocturnal but is sometimes observed at lights. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida. As the name indicates, the caterpillar hosts on hickory, plus walnuts, persimmon, sycamore, sweet gums and a number of other trees. Figure 7. Figure 5. The forewings are gray to gray-green with orange veins and a row of seven to nine yellow spots near the distal margin. The abdominal segments each have four short, black scoli, and segments 2 through 8 have a pale, oblique lateral stripe. Indians. Adult: The regal moth has a wingspan of 9.5 to 15.5 cm (Covell 2005). Hall, University of Florida. The hickory horned devil, a neon-turquoise caterpillar that can grow to be the size of a hot dog and is crowned with menacing black-tipped red horns, is an uncommon find in Pennsylvania. Read our They can grow to be 6 inches in length and are the largest caterpillar … Figure 11. These are the "horns" that give the caterpillar its ferocious appearance and name. This is a large species of moth that has a wingspan of up to 6” (15 cm). The eggs are cream and smooth, shiny and oval (about 1/8 inch long). Close-up of the head of a fully grown hickory horned devil caterpillar of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius). Although the larva has a fierce appearance, it is harmless. The "horns" are sometimes 3/4 inch long. Differential growth among larvae of, Worth CB, Platt AP, Williams TF. The hickory horned devil can reach up to 5½-inches in length! Adult regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius). The regal moth is found throughout the deciduous forest areas of the eastern United States from New Jersey to Missouri and southward to eastern Texas and central Florida (Wagner 2005). Van Nostrand Reinold Company, Inc. New York. Scientific name: Citheronia regalis. The bizarre critter was a 5.5-inch-long hickory horned devil caterpillar, nearly as fat and plump as a hot dog. They have green bodies (that become turquoise as they age) and lots of prickled, orangey horn-like structures on their heads. The bizarre critter was a 5.5-inch-long hickory horned devil caterpillar, nearly as fat and plump as a hot dog. The caterpillars vary slightly in color, but are commonly blue-green. animal. However, despite its fierce horned appearance, this type of caterpillar is totally harmless. The Hickory Horned Devil is the larval stage of the Regal moth. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida. Citheronia regalis, the regal moth or royal walnut moth, is a North American moth in the family Saturniidae.The caterpillars are called hickory horned devils.The adult has a wingspan of 3.75-6.1 in (9.5-15.5 cm).The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793. Females are larger than males. ... caterpillar. Tachinid parasitoids of Citheronia regalis, Sarcophagid parasitoid of Citheronia regalis, Braconid parasitoid of Citheronia regalis. Each forewing has two light spots at the base and seven oval spots toward the outer edge. There also are single yellow discal and basal spots. The two body segments toward the front have four long projections each that are brown at the base, black at the tip and curve back. The Hickory Horned Devil From Egg to Caterpillar An online resource devoted to North American insects, spiders and their kin, offering identification, images, and information. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Larva: The hickory horned devil is among the largest of our native saturniid caterpillars. The pupa is the overwintering stage. Figure 3. Virginia Museum of Natural History. p. 587. biology. Adult:The regal moth has a wingspan of 9.5 to 15.5 cm (Covell 2005). How to Identify it: You won’t soon forget the Hickory Horned Devil, a gigantic green caterpillar with spikes running down its body length. Figure 2. They are commonly found on species of the family (Juglandaceae) including walnut (Juglans nigra), butternut or white walnut (Juglans cinerea), and a variety of hickories (Carya spp.) Ithaca, NY. Fully grown hickory horned devil caterpillar, of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius). Find the perfect hickory horned devil caterpillar stock photo. For some people who come across it unexpectedly, it can be very intimidating. You will likely never see the moth, even though it's huge, because like most moths it only comes out at night and hides during the day. Even so, it rarely is noticed in the canopy of the tree. E.W. Their size and bristles do serve a purpose though, which is to scare away predators. This worm starts as a tiny caterpillar after hatching from one of hundreds of eggs laid by a regal moth. And watch it turn into a beautiful moth. 670 pp. The hickory horned devil, Citheronia regalis, is the largest caterpillar of the United States. Although it has a ferocious appearance, the hickory horned devil is harmless. The hickory horned devil is a blue-green colored caterpillar, about the size of a large hot dog, covered in long black thorns. Worth (1979) reported that a small number of regal moth pupae diapaused through two winters. Caterpillar-of-the-Day Follow Along: Day 105. Because hickory horned devils are harmless to humans and are relatively rare, no control measures are needed. Cornell University Press. http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=7706. Each body segment has four or more short, black spines around in a row around it. 1996. Hickory Horned Devil on Sassafrass Wow…ain’t nature grand? Figure 10. Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. The hind wing is mostly orange with a basal yellow spot and yellow patches (or spots) on the costal and anal margins. In Florida, adults have been collected in May, but are more common during the summer. Have you heard of the hickory horned devil caterpillar? Shop our best deals on 'Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar, USA' Photographic Print by David Northcott at AllPosters.com. July 18, 2005 Photos by Debbie Roos, Agricultural Extension Agent. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. The adult fly is at right. Figure 1. Of these latter three host plants, Worth et al. Tuskes PM, Tuttle JP, Collins MM. Gainesville, Florida. Caterpillars of Eastern North America. The hickory horned devil is among the largest of our native saturniid caterpillars. Meet The Hickory Horned Devil, The Monstrously Massive Caterpillar That Thrives In West Virginia. The Moths of North America. What can make this caterpillar appear even more frightening is its size, which is often compared to that of a large hotdog. 16. Catalog of parasitoids of Saturniidae of the world. Consequently, very few of the hundreds of eggs laid by regal moths successfully develop and produce offspring of their own. A Field Guide to the Moths of Eastern North America. Adults have vestigial mouthparts. Fast shipping, custom framing, and discounts you'll love! Hickory horned devils may look ferocious with their “horns” and spines and eyespots but they are completely harmless. Part 1. In spite of their large and forbidding appearance, birds are apparently fond of them for food. Regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius), distribution map.

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