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black, brown, white caterpillar (Black zigzag caterpillar)

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Black zigzag caterpillar
by: Moni

Mary
Here is one site with a photo of the caterpillar - it is a side view so looks a little different but the tufts are in the same place. Also, Wagner's book on the Caterpillars of eastern North America shows a nice photo.
http://wiki.bugwood.org/Archive:Caterpillars/Panthea_acronyctoides
Thanks!
by: Mary

Thank you Moni! I can't find very many pictures of the caterpillar online, so I doubt I would have ever figured it out without your help. :)



Thanks again!
Mary
Black zigzag caterpillar
by: Moni

Mary
With the help of a great taxonomist from Ohio State, I learned your caterpillar is called the black zigzag or tufted spruce caterpillar. It turns into a rather pretty black and white moth. The best ID is from moths because there is a lot of variation in the caterpillars.
It is common in the Smoky mountains, but not further south. It ranges from Canada south over the Great Lakes, west to Colorado and then south to Georgia.
The black zigzag lives in coniferous forests with the caterpillars eating fir, hemlock, larch , pine and spruce. They overwinter as pupae in leaf litter or soil. There are two generations in the Appalachians while only one north of there.
Here are photos of the moth - http://bugguide.net/node/view/24924/bgimage
Caterpillar
by: Moni

Mary
We will keep looking to see if we can figure it out.
Thanks for the extra info.
More information
by: Mary

Hi Moni, thanks for the information and help! I will check to see if I have any clearer pictures of this caterpillar.

Unfortunately, I do not know what this caterpillar was feeding on, as I found it on the ground among some dead leaves and it did not appear to be actively eating any of them. It was about 1.5-2" long.

I found a better quality photo from a friend who was also on the hike. It's probably the best view of the head and side that I can offer. http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_EHCP5430&res=640

I wish I could offer more information, but at the time I didn't know that this caterpillar would be such a mystery! Thanks again for your help. -Mary
Unknown caterpillar
by: Moni

Mary
Yes, it does kind of look like the satin moth caterpillar....the best match of any I have found also. But, I am not convinced that is what it is. The tufts are not right as you say, and the side coloration is not the same either. Will keep looking.
Do you know what it was feeding on? What size is this caterpillar? Do you have a better side view or a view of its head?
Information on the satin moth follows -
The satin moth is found in the US. Mostly it is found in Canada from Ontario to Nova Scotia south to NW Conn and central NY over most of northeastern US. It was introduced from Europe in 1920.
The caterpillar of the satin moth feeds on poplar, willows and aspen trees. Tho it has been an invasive species in the past, there are many parasites and predators that now keep it in check for the most part. This caterpillar overwinters as a third instar under bark then finishes feeding the next spring.

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