General Leaf Eating Caterpillars

John F. Baniecki, Ph.D.

WVU Extension Service

Plant Pathology and Entomology Specialist
August 2000

The general leaf eating caterpillars, cover those immature stages of moths and butterflies that feed on a wide variety of plants, seldom doing enough damage to require treatment. However, they are often encountered, especially in late summer, feeding on lower branches of fruit trees, ornamentals, shrubs and hardwood trees, or crawling on objects near the ground, where they may spin cocoons or enter the soil for a resting period.

Although many groups are considered "general leaf eaters," including the largest North American caterpillars, the silkworms (Family Satumiidae), the more commonly found groups are discussed below: Family Arctiidae, Citheroniidae, and Notodontidae. The caterpillars of these moths feed on the larger veins. The trees attacked are listed here and referred to later, only by the number preceding it, in order to conserve space. It should be remembered, however, that those listed are preferred trees; many others may also be fed upon.

Description

Tiger Moth and Their Allies (Family Arctiidae)

Caterpillars clothed with dense clusters of hairs varying in length. The hairs of certain species may cause skin irritation.

 

Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocaimpa caryae) (Harris)

Found on trees 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, and 23. The full grown caterpillar, about 1½ inches long, is clothed with short, spreading tufts of grayish-white hairs. There is a row of black tufts and pairs of long black hairs at the end of the body. The caterpillars feed together in groups, until they mature.

Sycamore Tussock Moth (Halysidota harrissi)(Walsh)

Found on trees 16 and 22. Caterpillars have yellowish bodies clothed in whitish to yellow hairs with long, orange colored hairs.

 

Royal Moths (Sub Family Citheroniinae)

Caterpillars covered with horns or spines, with some being thinly hairy. The horns or spines on the front part of the body are long and usually curved.

 

Green Striped Mapleworm (Dryocampa rubicunda)(F.)

Found on trees 7, 17, and 18. Full grown larvae, about 1½ inches long, have cherry-red heads, pale yellow-green bodies with seven dark green or nearly black lines running its entire length. There are two noticeable, slender horns on the front part of the body and two rows of short spines on each side of the body with four larger spines at the end of the body.

Orange Striped Oakworm (Anisota senatoria)(J. E. Smith)

Found on tree 18. The full grown caterpillar, about 2 inches long, is black with eight orange-yellow stripes running the entire length of the body, and a pair of black, slender, stiff recurved spines on the front part of the body. Young caterpillars occur in groups.

Pink Striped Oakworm (A. virginiensis)(Drury)

Occurs on trees 6, 9, 12, 17, and 18. The full grown caterpillars, about 2 inches long are greenish to brownish yellow with six rose colored stripes running the entire body length. Two slightly curved and conspicuous spines occur on the front of the body.

 

Prominent Moths (Family Notodontidae)

Caterpillars usually occur singly, although some are nest builders. When disturbed, the caterpillars often hold their ends erect and remain attached by the four pairs of legs at the middle of the body.

 

Yellow Necked Caterpillar (Datana ministra)(Drury)

Found on trees 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, and 23. The full grown caterpillars, about 2 inches, are moderately clothed with long soft, white hairs. The head is black and the first part of the body behind the head is bright orange-yellow. The body is marked with alternating yellow-white and black stripes.

Saddled Prominent (Heterocampa guttivitta)(Walker)

Found on trees 5, 6, 17, 18, and 20. The full grown caterpillar, about 1¼ inches long, is usually green with purple, gold and brown markings on the back.

Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar (H. manteo)(Doubleday)

Occurs on trees 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 18, 19, and 23. The full grown caterpillars, about 1½ inches, are yellowish-green and usually with a broad band down the back.

Red Humped Caterpillar (Schizura concinna)(J. E. Smith)

Attacks trees 1, 3, 6, 10, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21, and 24. The full grown caterpillars, about 1 inch long, have red heads and red humps on the end of the body. Black and yellow alternating lines and on top a double row of short, black spines run down the entire length of the body. When at rest, the caterpillar holds the rear end in an elevated position and a pungent, disagreeable odor is given off, when disturbed. The caterpillars occur together in groups and completely strip one branch of leaves before moving onto another.

Red Humped Oakworm (Symmerista canicosta)(Franc.)

Found on trees 4, 5, 6, 11, 17, 18, and other deciduous trees. Full grown caterpillars have rounded orange-red heads and yellowish bodies that increase in width back to an orange-red enlargement on the end of the body length.

Damage

In the forest, damage is seldom serious, although heavily infested trees may be completely stripped of leaves in isolated spots. Fruit, shade, and ornamental trees are injured most severely. In many cases, doing nothing is the best course of action because predators, parasites, and other factors will often reduce the population naturally. Tree mortality caused by outbreaks of these creatures is usually not serious unless several years of complete defoliation occur in a row, and even then, most trees of sapling size or larger may survive, losing only large branches. However, defoliation may weaken younger or newly transplanted trees and most shrubs, making them susceptible to other insects or diseases.

Bastiann M. Drees