Late instar caterpillar mostly black with tufts of stiff black hairs of equal length radiating around body. Rolls up head to tail when disturbed. When curled, red intersegmental rings visible between the hairs. Spiracles orange or red. Early instar also has hairy tufts, but body colored dark brown and orange.
Adult white with black spots. Many spots are hollow rings. Hindwing with black shading along inner margin, and black terminal spots near apex.
Adult abdomen beautifully marked with blue and orange below, but color not visible at rest.
larvae feed on a great variety of broad-leaved plants, including banana, cabbage, cherry, dandelion, maple, orange, sunflower, violet, willow
Life Cycle
Overwinters as a caterpillar (Caterpillars of Eastern Forests(2) says it overwinters August to May - presumably this varies by location). One generation per year in the north; sometimes two generations in the south.
eggs; early instar larva; larva; larva; larva head; pupa; adult
Remarks
Unlike some hairy caterpillars, will not sting if handled. Its defense is to stay rolled up until left alone.
Yellowish droplets of liquid are sometimes emitted from the adults when threatened or handled, as a chemical defense against predators.
Caterpillars of Eastern Forests David L. Wagner, Valerie Giles, Richard C. Reardon, Michael L. McManus. 1998. U.S. Dept of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team.
