Caterpillars on Oak Trees: Identification Guide to the Caterpillars That Eat Oak Tree Leaves

Eastern Tent Caterpillar

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Malacosoma americanum
• Where does this species happen? Across the japanese US
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? Yes, it might
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? No
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Yes however with problem

This tent caterpillar, just like the earlier species, kinds mats or “tents” the place the caterpillars all relaxation between meals; additionally they shed their skins within the tent. This shelter is distinctive however there are different species, some not intently associated, that additionally make webbed shelters the place the caterpillars reside communally.

This oak-eating caterpillar may cause injury when it reveals up in numbers, but it surely’s not sometimes as huge of an issue because the final two species. It resembles the japanese tent caterpillar however has a line down the again as an alternative of cream-colored spots; the grownup moths are comparable.

Fall Cankerworm

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Alsophila pometaria
• Where does this species happen? Across the US
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? Yes, it’s a native pest of oaks and different timber
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? No
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Yes

The fall cankerworm is a species of inchworm, which implies it is within the household Geometridae. This is a really giant household that features the entire inchworms and extra. Inchworms like the autumn cankerworm get their nickname from the distinctive approach that they transfer: they stretch their lengthy, skinny physique forwafreelancertamal, seize on with their entrance legs, and convey the hind finish of their physique as much as meet the entrance legs, making a loop of their physique (different, unrelated caterpillars referred to as “loopers” additionally use this type of locomotion). Old-timey entomologists noticed this and referred to as them inchworms for the way in which it seemed like they have been “measuring the marigolds,” because the tune goes.

The grownup mlae moth has broad, pale grey wings; the feminine is wingless and by no means leaves the neighborhood of the cocoon.

Oak Leaf Skeletonizer

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Bucculatrix ainsliella
• Where does this species happen? Much of North America, together with Canada
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? Yes
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? No
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Yes; organic controls like parasitic wasps have been efficient

This small moth lays eggs close to the veins of oak leaves. The immature caterpillars begin life as leaf miners, which implies they burrow contained in the leaves; as they develop they transfer to the floor of the leaf and feed there, finally consuming the whole lot between the veins. This “skeletonizing” habits is the supply of the insect’s widespread title.

Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Lochmaeus manteo
• Where does this species happen? Northern US with associated species throughout North America
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? Not often
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? No
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Not often vital

Variable oak leaf caterpillars are a part of a really giant group of moth species generally referred to as “prominents.” The caterpillars could be very unusual in look, they usually typically tackle many alternative colours or kinds; the variable oak leaf caterpillar is without doubt one of the extra shape-shifting examples of this group.

The grownup moth is often kind of plain brown or grey, with a really furry physique. This species won’t often do an excessive amount of injury to oak timber.

Orange-Striped Oakworm

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Anisota senatoria
• Where does this species happen? Eastern US
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? Not often
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? No
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Not often vital

Sometimes in late summer season numbers of those caterpillars will all of the sudden seem, seemingly out of nowhere.You will see them crawling alongside the bottom close to oak timber as they seek for a spot to burrow down and pupate, earlier than hatching out the next spring as grownup moths.

They do not truly seem out of nowhere, after all – like many different caterpillar species, orange-striped oakworms spend their days excessive within the tree, feeding on leaves and attempting to not get eaten themselves by a hungry bifreelancertamal. When it is time to pupate, the all transfer en masse down the trunk (some will simply drop to the bottom from the place they’re sitting) and unfold out to discover a place to dig. This is if you end up probably to search out them.

This species doesn’t sometimes do a lot injury to the host tree, though they’ll eat their share of leaves. The grownup moth is sublimely lovely.

Red-Humped Oakworm

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Symmerista canicosta
• Where does this species happen? Eastern US
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? Not often, although they might happen in numbers and strip leaves from branches
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? No
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Yes, not often vital

The red-humped oakworm is aptly named. It eats oak leaves, for one factor, but it surely additionally has a placing pink hump on one finish and a shiny pink head on the opposite. It belongs to the household Notodontidae, aka the “prominents,” which incorporates some very unusual trying caterpillars (you probably have a minute, search up the caterpillar of the Lobster Moth). Like many different prominents, these caterpillars prefer to feed in teams, and sufficient of them can significantly injury a younger or sick tree.

The grownup moth is a delicate grey shade with shiny cream margins on the forewings.

Live Oak Tussock Moth

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Orgyia detrita
• Where does this species happen? In the western US, with intently associated species throughout North America
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? Sometimes
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? Yes, for these with delicate pores and skin
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Yes, however not often vital

Tussock moths within the genus Orgyia happen all through North America. They have a particular look, with a variety of light-colored tufts or “tussocks” of fur on the again; one principle is that these tufts resemble the cocoons of parasitic wasps, which can deter a wasp from attacking the caterpillar as a result of it seems to already be parasitized.

The white-marked tussock moth, O. leucostigma, is a quite common pest of decorative timber in cities and suburbs throughout the nation.

Dagger Moths, Genus Acronicta

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Various species within the genus Acronicta
• Where does this species happen? Across the US and Europe
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? No
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? No
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Not vital

This is a big group of similar-looking grey moths. Many of them feed on oak leaves, however I’ll point out a few them right here, as a result of you might discover certainly one of them wandering round on the trunk of an oak tree because it appears to be like for a spot to make its cocoon. These caterpillars feed singly and won’t sometimes trigger injury to the tree.

Underwing Moths, Genus Catocala

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Various species within the genus Catocala
• Where does this species happen? Across the US
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? No
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? No
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Not vital

Like the dagger moths (above), underwing moths are inclined to look alike and have many species that use oak leaves for meals. While underwings could also be confused for dagger moths whereas resting with their wings folded, as soon as they fly it turns into evident why Catocala moths are referred to as “underwings” – their hind wings have sensible pink, orange, or yellow bands that flash once they fly. These colours are well-known within the insect world as warning coloration, and any predator all of the sudden seeing shiny pink or orange will assume that the prey they’re chasing might be able to sting or combat again in a roundabout way. The moth is totally innocent, however its bluff might enable it time to flee.

The caterpillars are all very comparable and mix in with the twigs and leaves of the host plant.

Polyphemus moth

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Antheraea polyphemus
• Where does this species happen? Eastern US
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? No
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? No
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Not vital

This big, beautiful moth is without doubt one of the large silk moths, household Saturniidae. The caterpillar is inexperienced, fats and spherical, concerning the dimension of your thumb. It feeds singly on oak and several other different timber, and should you’re fortunate you might discover one hanging out on a low department close to chewed-up leaves. The caterpillar leaves the meals plant and spins a troublesome spherical cocoon on a close-by shrub or small tree, the place you might discover them within the winter as soon as all of the leaves have fallen.

Buck Moth

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Hemilauca maia
• Where does this species happen? Eastern US; comparable species throughout the US
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? No
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? Yes; this species has venomous spines
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Not often vital

This is the one species on this checklist that may sting, and it might REALLY sting, similar to a bee sting. The spines alongside the caterpillar’s again are loaded with venom, and should you put your hand on one you’ll really feel it for hours. Unfortunately, again moth caterpillars are inclined to journey and relaxation in giant teams, typically on the trunks of timber, so it is doable to by accident brush up or lean in opposition to an entire lot of them without delay. If this occurs, you might must make a visit to the emergency room, particularly in case you are allergic to bee stings!

On the plus aspect, grownup buck moths are lovely!

California Oakworm

The Basics:

• What is the scientific title? Phryganidia californica
• Where does this species happen? West Coast of US
• Will it significantly injury vegetation or timber? Yes
• Does it sting or trigger irritation? No
• Can or not it’s managed with out pesticides? Yes

These small inexperienced caterpillars typically infest reside oaks, and might trigger appreciable injury. However it’s uncommon for them to really kill or significantly weaken the host tree. They are discovered solely on the West Coast.

Sources

The following sources have been used for this information:

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/oak-trees-caterpillars-52825.html

https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/e2633.pdf

https://www.davey.com/insect-disease-resource-center/buck-moth/

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/fall-cankerworm

https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/83118.html

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/trees/forest_tent_caterpillar.htm