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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Symphyta" - Sawflies, Horntails, and Wood Wasps » Common Sawflies (Tenthredinidae) » Allantinae » Eriocampini » Eriocampa » Butternut Woolly Worm (Eriocampa juglandis)
Photo#60478
Caterpillar - Eriocampa juglandis
Copyright © 2006 Shawn Hubbard

Caterpillar - Eriocampa juglandis
Pennfield, Calhoun County, Michigan, USA
June 29, 2006
Size: 1 inch
I found these interesting caterpillars munching on our Hickory tree, stripping the leaves down to nothing. They have some sort of white feathery "stuff" on them that can be blown or brushed off.

I have no idea what they are. Please help me identify them.

Images of this individual: tag all
Caterpillar - Eriocampa juglandis Caterpillar - Eriocampa juglandis
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Contributed by Shawn Hubbard on 29 June, 2006 - 7:13pm
Last updated 3 July, 2006 - 9:38am

fungus?
I think these are actually infected with a fungus that causes the white residue to appear. There is a photo of a cactus moth on the moth photographer's group site that shows a similar residue:


This is a stretch, of course. But, I thought it might interest you.
… Julia Booth, 30 June, 2006 - 1:37am login or register to post comments

 
No, but good guess:-)
The filaments on the larva are wax secretions, characteristic of the sawfly larva known as the 'butternut woollyworm.' Very cute, huh?:-) Neat find. They normally feed on...butternut, but that tree is apparently becoming more scarce, so they have adapted to related host plants.
… Eric R. Eaton, 30 June, 2006 - 3:45pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
That is a great help. Thanks for your input. We actually have a butternut tree, so I am surprised that they haven't found that. Again, thanks for you help.
… Shawn Hubbard, 30 June, 2006 - 3:52pm login or register to post comments

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