This has been a year of abundant butterflies and moths at Blue Jay Barrens and now, as you might expect, I am seeing an abundance of caterpillars. Every tree and shrub is showing signs of feeding damage to the leaves and it doesn’t take long to discover the feeders. The last time I was out, I ran into a couple of my favorites. This little beauty is the Spiny Oak-slug,
Euclea delphinii.
This is one of those look-but-don’t-touch species. Those spines are venom filled and can deliver an irritating sting. I’m always glad when I see the caterpillar before accidentally brushing against it. The spines are arranged to give defense from above or from the sides.
The bright coloration of this caterpillar is a warning to stay away. From a distance, the bright yellow is muted and begins to look like just another leaf adopting its fall colors.
When I see long tufts of hair adorning the head and tail of a caterpillar, I automatically think tussock moth. Most caterpillars with this feature represent a species with tussock in its common name, even though they represent many genera scattered through several families of moths. Here is the Banded Tussock Moth,
Halysidota tessellaris.
This is a very common species that often sits out in the open on top of leaves. The head is partially hidden by several tufts of long, feathery hairs. I suppose the tufts have something to do with camouflage or defense. What I really like about these caterpillars is the magic act they perform when disturbed.
Suddenly, the head becomes the butt. Like a turtle withdrawing into its shell, the caterpillar pulls in its head and first segments so that the arrangement of tufts mimics the rear end. Many predators attack the head of the prey and having the head suddenly disappear could confuse a predator enough to make it move away. Whatever the reason, it’s a neat little trick to watch.
This has definitely been a summer for finding slug caterpillars. I found this Spiny Oak Slug munching away on my apple tree.
This is a spiny fellow that will sting you if you happen to touch it. I definitely did not use my finger tip to position this guy for a photo shoot.
Spiny Oak Slugs are quite variable in their appearance and come in a variety of colors. One of the defining characters is supposed to be some clumps of black spines at the rear of the caterpillar. I’m not really seeing them here, but the literature says their appearance is also variable and occurs only in the last two instars. I’m not very good at determining caterpillar instars, so I’m not sure whether or not it’s time to be seeing black spines.
I had nudged the caterpillar toward the center of the leaf for a better photographic angle, but it was determined to return to the leaf margin to continue with its meal. In its rush to get back to feeding, it revealed its normally concealed head.
The green and gray color combination displayed by this individual matches well with the blotchy pattern of the leaves. Between the camouflage and the sting, these caterpillars should be well protected.
This shot is for those who haven’t yet noticed the face pattern on the caterpillar’s back. I love a good face shot.
