Unknown caterpillar - Atteva punctella

Moved

… john and jane balaban, 6 December, 2008 - 12:32pm

Ailanthus webworm

This is the ailanthus webworm, Yponomeutidae: Atteva punctella. It is native to the Neotropical region but long ago expanded its range into the USA by tracking the introduction and spread of an Oriental plant, tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae), which is its only host plant here in the northern part of the country. That must have been the plant that this larva was on. I can understand the ID of sumac, because, to my eye, sumac and tree of Heaven are very similar in appearance.

… Terry Harrison, 6 December, 2008 - 10:50am

Moved

Moved from Butterflies and Moths.

… john and jane balaban, 9 November, 2008 - 5:38pm

Similar picture

Hey Tom. I don't have an ID, but I was reminded of a similar picture I took last summer. Hopefully between our pictures, we can get an ID.

… Erik Blosser, 10 October, 2005 - 9:36pm

Erik, This looks super fam

Erik,

This looks super familiar..I bet this is the same species. I have a caterpillar expert that I am also going to email the photo. What plant was yours on?

… Tom Bentley, 11 October, 2005 - 8:42pm

Host Plant

Hey Tom. I took this photo over a year ago and so I don't know for sure what plant the web was on. I know it was very close to the ground and it seems like it was in among the tall grass blades. I think there is sumac not far from that spot though.

… Erik Blosser, 11 October, 2005 - 9:37pm