White filled, black and blue eyespots are hindwing are distinctive. Overall color varies from reddish to yellowish. Males (below left) are yellower, females (below right) redder.
Caterpillars gregarious in early instars, starting out orange then maturing to pale blue-green with clusters of spines and a red line along each side with white underneath.:
Range
Eastern North America, west to Arizona, and south into Central America (Featured Creatures)
Numerous plants and trees, including birches, clover, corn, elms, maples, oaks, willows, roses, cotton, hibiscus, azaleas, palms, and even some grasses (Featured Creatures)(1)
Life Cycle
Larva are gregarious early on, but go it alone as they mature. They leave the hostplant to form a papery cocoon, usually in leaf litter. There may be up to four generations in the south, but usually just one in the north. (Featured Creatures)
Remarks
Caution, larva may "sting" if handled. The larger the caterpillar the more intense the stinging sensation caused by the urticating spines.
