Look Out! Here come "da devil!"

After I returned from Spencer yesterday, I noticed a jar on the counter containing one of my favorite caterpillars. Seems as our friends Maxine, Carolyn, Susan, and Paula found this specimen while walking around their pond. Most folks who see this dramatic insect larvae are impressed with its dangerous looking appearance. There is nothing dangerous about this critter. The spines are not poisonous.


This larval stage, known as the Hickory Horned Devil, changes into a lovely large moth, the Regal Moth. The regal moth lays eggs on vegetation and they hatch in a few days. Once the little caterpillars hatch, they curl up in a "j" shaped pattern during the day and resemble two-toned bird droppings. As the caterpillars age, they feed during the day. They molt 5 times. Each instar is different, but their sixth is what we are seeing here.


Once the Hickory Horned Devil transforms into a Regal Moth (seen below) it is sexually mature. It's mouthparts are not formed in order for it to feed. The adult only lives to mate. The life span of the adult Regal Moth is about a week