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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths (Lasiocampoidea) » Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths (Lasiocampidae) » Lasiocampinae » Lasiocampini » Malacosoma » Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7698 (Malacosoma disstria)
Photo#48676
Colony of Caterpillars? - Malacosoma disstria
Copyright © 2006 Jennifer Sigman

Colony of Caterpillars? - Malacosoma disstria
Rocky Point, Southeast County, North Carolina, USA
April 20, 2006
I found this "colony" of caterpillars on an oak tree in my yard. What kind are they and why are they all together like this? Any help is appreciated!
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Contributed by Jennifer Sigman on 20 April, 2006 - 10:57am
Last updated 12 May, 2006 - 10:03pm

Forest Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma disstria. Wagner has an almost identical image on page 227. "This is a gregarious species that marches in mass but does not spin a tent. By day the caterpillars gather on the trunks of trees in impressive masses of 100 or more individuals, lined up side by side."
… john and jane balaban, 20 April, 2006 - 12:00pm login or register to post comments

 
Moths?
Do these little guys happen to turn into moths? If so, where can I find a picture of them?
… Jennifer Sigman, 20 April, 2006 - 11:12pm login or register to post comments

 
Just click on the link
When we made the comment above, we made the name of the species into a link to the images.
… john and jane balaban, 21 April, 2006 - 8:07am login or register to post comments

 
Sorry bout that. I'm new at a
Sorry bout that. I'm new at all this bug guide stuff. Thanks a bunch!
… Jennifer Sigman, 21 April, 2006 - 8:15am login or register to post comments

 
Nothing to be sorry about
We just got a little sloppy with our comments. Coulda explained it better! Did you find the images of the adult ok? And, of course, welcome to BugGuide. Hope to see more images from you. If you click on your name under your photo or under your comments, you will be taken to your Id page, which you can edit and tell us more about yourself!
… john and jane balaban, 21 April, 2006 - 2:15pm login or register to post comments

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