Immature White Flannel Moth - Norape ovina

Looking at the other images in Bug Guide

of this caterpillar....I have never observed the red hues at each end. The only color form of it I have observed has been the form I photographed here.
Is this variable? does it denote an instar stage? ......

… Kathleen, 9 September, 2006 - 6:04pm

I agree

I agree with John and Jane. Caterpillars go through five instars, and each one may look different. Keep an eye on these, and see if you can verify by photographing one after the next molt. Presumably the next molt, or anyway the final molt, will have red on it.

… Stephen Cresswell, 10 September, 2006 - 5:20am

L L Hyche

who authored the Auburn article (on stinging caterpillars) has numerous photographs of various stages of the larvae >ForestryImages.org< and one of the forms without the reddish hue was indicated to be the final instar.
That makes sense with my sightings, not seeing them feed but instead seeing them at the base of the tree and probably ready to pupate/go to ground....

(my attempt to include the link did not work)

… Kathleen, 10 September, 2006 - 8:33am

Nice detective work!

We think this is the forestryimages link you may have wanted, though it seems to still have some red color. Your reasoning certainly seems correct about moving down to pupate. Nice addition to the guide.

… john and jane balaban, 10 September, 2006 - 9:53am

Seems like all the images we find

when we search have the red hues. Can only guess that comes later as they age and molt. This site at Auburn lists them as feeding on Mimosa!

… john and jane balaban, 9 September, 2006 - 8:29pm

Looks like

Norape ovina - White Flannel moth. Images in the guide here. Watch out for stinging spines!

… john and jane balaban, 9 September, 2006 - 8:17am

Thank You for the ID!

Thank You for the ID! and for the caution about the spines. Interesting creature. AND it is so interesting that Each and Every Time I have seen it, it is on Mimosa and not the listed plants of Redbud and Hackberry.

… Kathleen, 9 September, 2006 - 9:06am

on Mimosa

each and everytime I have seen this, it has been on the trunk at the base of a Mimosa Tree.

… Kathleen, 8 September, 2006 - 9:38pm