About this Caterpillar:
Here's a beauty of a caterpillar. The crowned slug displays its spines like the feathered headpiece of a Vegas showgirl. The stinging setae line the crowned slug's perimeter, decorating its flattened, green body. Later instars may also be marked with colorful red or yellow spots along the caterpillar's back.Where It's Found:
Woodlands, from Florida to Mississippi, north all the way to Minnesota, southern Ontario, and Massachusetts.What It Eats:
Mostly oak, but also elm, hickory, maple, and a few other woody plants.Group:
Slug Caterpillars (Family Limacodidae)Sources:
- Caterpillars of Eastern North America by David L. Wagner
- Stinging Caterpillars: A Guide to Recognition of Species Found on Alabama Trees