Other Common Names
Yellow Woolybear (caterpillar)
Yellow Wooly Bear (caterpillar)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Spilosoma virginica – (Fabricius, 1798)
Diacrisia virginica - Hampson, 1901
Spilosoma congrua - Walker, 1855
Bombyx virginica - Fabricius, 1798
Identification
Caterpillars very variable in color - beige/yellow/dark red-brown/black. Body covered in long soft hairs (setae) of variable length - some much longer than the others (more than three body segments in length). Often one long hair in center of each tuft. Spiracles white.
(2)Range
Widespread throughout most of North America.
Season
Mature caterpillars May through November.
Food
Caterpillars feed on "many low-growing plants, and woody shrubs and trees"
(2)Life Cycle
Click on an image below to view the Life Cycle:
See Also
Salt Marsh Caterpillar
Estigmene acrea. Caterpillars also have long soft hairs - longest hairs are concentrated at the ends of the larva, especially the rear.
Adult: S. virginica has yellow markings on the abdomen, while S. congrua's abdomen is pure white. [comment by Paul Dennehy]
Internet References
Furman.edu - images of all life stages
