Garden Pictures Pictures by all members (41977 photos)
Regal moth larvae, Hickory Horned Devils
This is the larvae to the Regal moth, Citheronia regalis. It's called the Hickory Horned Devil. Although they look fierce with those rigid horns, they are harmless unless you happen to be a bird trying to swallow one ! The caterpillar on the top is in his 6th instar and had hit the ground searching for a good place to tunnel underground to pupate. The one on the bottom is also in his 6th instar but he's not quite ready to hit the ground. When they turn that dark turquoise color, you know they are ready to tunnel. They are by far the coolest caterpillar there is !
< previous
next >
Comments on this photo
20 Mar, 2008
Very cool! They look alien!
20 Mar, 2008
What a beautiful turquoise colour!
20 Mar, 2008
I haven't seen any of these in years ! I love these caterpillars. They remind me of the paper dragons that cover a city block in the Chinese parades.
21 Mar, 2008
Exactly Flcrazy !!! That's the perfect description ! So you used to see these guys down there? Do you remember what plant they were on? Pretty cool.
21 Mar, 2008
They were on the ground under my hickory nut tree. I guess the tree is good for something, these trees ruin the soil around them, similar to a walnut tree, and it's hard to find things that will thrive in that soil. I've killed alot of stuff trying to find something that will grow there.
24 Mar, 2008
They look like enamel jewellery! the moth looks like chinoiserie! Very cool. I add my ditto to the above...Good stuff!!
What else?
See who else is growing Rhus glabra.
See who else has plants in genus Rhus.
This photo is of "Sumac, Smooth" in Diohio's garden
Joined 18 Oct, 2007
essex
20 Mar, 2008
your brave! lol