Caterpillars exhibit a wide variety of colors and patterns to help them blend into their environment or warn predators of toxicity A recurring theme among many species is a bright red head, which likely serves as a deterrent to would-be attackers. Here are 18 caterpillars from across North America that sport this flashy warning coloration
1. Azalea Caterpillar
The azalea caterpillar (Datana major), as its name implies feeds primarily on azaleas. Its body transitions from orange to a black and yellow striped pattern as it develops. The combination of the red head and alternating stripes signals toxicity to potential predators like birds. Outbreaks can quickly defoliate ornamental azalea shrubs, making this a common garden pest.
2. Red-humped Caterpillar
As larvae of the red-humped caterpillar moth (Schizura concinna), these caterpillars exhibit a reddish-brown head and a yellow body with black bands and long tufts. They feed on a variety of trees, including cherry, apple, oak, birch, maple, and others. Heavy infestations can severely defoliate trees, requiring pest management. The red head mimics toxicity.
3. Western Red-humped Caterpillar
Found in western North America, the western red-humped caterpillar (Oedemasia salicis) displays a red head and black tufts on its yellow banded body. It consumes willow, poplar, and cottonwood leaves. The combination of warning colors advertises its foul taste to predators. A red hump behind its head adds to its menacing appearance.
4. Common Buckeye Caterpillar
This aptly named species (Junonia coenia) has large eyespots on its wings as an adult. The larvae have a green body with brown patches, white spots, and a red head. They feed exclusively on plantains, a medicinal herb. The red head mimics toxicity as a defense against predators. The buckeye caterpillar changes color as it develops.
5. Fir Tussock Moth Caterpillar
Hairy and colorful, the fir tussock moth caterpillar (Orgyia detrita) has a bright red head and black and yellow banded body covered in tufts of hair. It consumes true firs and other conifers and deciduous trees. Contact with the irritating hairs can cause dermatitis in humans. This species likely uses its showy colors to advertise its unpleasant taste.
6. White-lined Sphinx Caterpillar
The white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar (Hyles lineata) exhibits green skin with white and yellow lines running along its length. It has a large red head and rear end. An aggressive pest it attacks many garden plants and crops. Outbreaks can completely defoliate plants. Its warning colors signal distastefulness.
7. Horace’s Duskywing Caterpillar
Horace’s duskywing (Erynnis horatius) caterpillars have a green body and brownish-red head. They feed exclusively on oak leaves, resembling veins and blending into the leaves. The red head mimics toxicity to deter bird attacks. They can cause significant defoliation during outbreaks.
8. Long-tailed Skipper Caterpillar
Long-tailed skippers (Urbanus proteus) are a tropical species found across the southern U.S. Their larvae have a green body and dark head with large red eyespots. They feed on legumes, including beans and wisteria. The contrasting colors warn of their foul taste. Some individuals develop yellow stripes on their bodies.
9. Silver-spotted Skipper Caterpillar
The silver-spotted skipper caterpillar (Epargyreus clarus) has a yellow-green body with a reddish-brown head and big yellow-orange eyespots. It consumes leaves of locust trees and other legumes. The adults are brown with distinctive silver spots. Warning coloration in both life stages protects this species from predators.
10. Hieroglyphic Moth Caterpillar
Native to Central and South America, the hieroglyphic moth (Diphthera festiva) gets its name from the black and white zig-zag patterns on its wings. Its caterpillar has a beige body with dark bands and an orange-brown head. It feeds on various trees and shrubs. Contrasting colors serve as a warning to predators.
11. Interrupted Dagger Moth Caterpillar
The interrupted dagger moth caterpillar (Acronicta interrupta) is clad in black with white bands and an orange-red head. Tufts of long hairs run along its body. It feeds on various trees, especially fruit and nut varieties. This species can occur at outbreak levels, severely defoliating host trees. Warning colors likely deter predation.
12. White-marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar
Clumps of hair tufts give the white-marked tussock moth caterpillar (Orgyia leucostigma) its “tussock” name. It has a black body with yellow lines, red head, and red spots. It feeds on a wide variety of trees and shrubs, including fruit trees. Outbreaks occasionally occur but crash due to viral diseases. Warning coloration advertises its foul taste.
13. Lily Caterpillar
The lily caterpillar (Spodoptera picta) is black with yellow lines, a red head, and large red eyespots. It feeds exclusively on true lilies. The adult moth retains the same color pattern. Warning colors likely deter predation by birds and other creatures. This species can completely defoliate lilies.
14. Splendid Dagger Caterpillar
The splendid dagger caterpillar (Acronicta superans) has a green body with a brown stripe outlined in yellow along its back. It has a reddish-brown head. Host plants include various trees, like alder, birch, and oak. The contrasting colors serve as a warning to predators of its foul taste.
15. Bedstraw Hawkmoth Caterpillar
The bedstraw hawk moth caterpillar (Hyles gallii) has a dark red-brown body and head. As the name suggests, it feeds on bedstraws and other low-growing plants. The red hue signals toxicity to predators. Interestingly, the adult moth retains red coloration on its hindwings.
16. Rosy Maple Moth Caterpillar
The rosy maple moth caterpillar (Dryocampa rubicunda) is green with yellow lines along its body. It has a variable colored head ranging from red to brown. Host plants include maples and other trees. This species likely uses warning colors to advertise distastefulness.
17. Tetrio Sphinx Caterpillar
A rare species, the Tetrio sphinx moth caterpillar (Pseudosphinx tetrio) has a black body with yellow bands and a prominent red head. It also sports red prolegs. Found only in southern Florida, it feeds on fragrant plants like frangipani. Warning coloration deters predation.
18. Zebra Caterpillar
The zebra caterpillar (Melanchra picta) has a black body with white bands and a red head. As the name suggests, it resembles a zebra. It feeds on cabbages, beets, and other plants, often causing significant damage. Showy warnings colors advertise its toxicity and bad taste to predators.
The recurrent theme of red heads illustrates convergent evolution across caterpillar species. Broadcasting toxicity through attention-grabbing colors helps reduce attacks from predators. So next time you spy a caterpillar with a crimson cranium, it’s best to simply admire its colorful warning and leave it be!
A Blog about Gardening … The Viette Way!
A few weeks ago, we received an e-mail from a fellow gardener in Richmond, VA who had noticed that caterpillars were devouring the current season’s growth on his azalea bushes. After some research, he determined that they were azalea caterpillars (Datana major). He had neither seen nor heard of these caterpillars before and was wondering if they were native to Virginia or an introduced species.
I have never seen these colorful (but destructive) caterpillars either but apparently they can be a major pest of azaleas, especially in the southeast. They are native to the continental US and Canada, but are most common in the southeastern US and the Mid-Atlantic States.
The azalea caterpillar (aka the red-headed azalea caterpillar) prefers to feed on azalea foliage but will also attack blueberries, apple trees, and red oak trees. They tend to feed in large groups and can quickly defoliate their target plants if they are not controlled.
The adult stage is a rather nondescript brown moth but the larval caterpillars are quite colorful. They have a black body with several broken yellow stripes along its length. The head and legs are red. The mature caterpillars are about 2 inches long.
Adult female moths lay up to 100 eggs on the underside of the host plant leaves. The eggs hatch later in the season and the tiny caterpillars begin to feed on the foliage.
The caterpillars go through several instars, growing larger during each stage, and usually continue to feed together in large masses. Because of this tendency to group together while they feed, they can strip a plant of most of its leaves in a short period of time.
Major damage from these caterpillars is usually observed in August and September when they are larger and eating voraciously. Though the damage from their feeding does not kill the shrub, it is certainly not aesthetically pleasing!
Controlling azalea caterpillars can be as simple as picking them off the shrubs. These are not stinging caterpillars despite the sparse hairs that cover their bodies, however, the problem is that there can be LOTS of them.
If you have a large infestation, you may need to resort to another form of control.
When the caterpillars are young and small, a liquid formulation of the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) (such as Bonide Thuricide) applied to the foliage will kill them when they eat the leaves. Bt is less likely to harm beneficial insects.
Bonide Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew, another naturally derived organic insecticide, is effective in controlling the larger caterpillars when it is sprayed on the foliage. The trick is to cover the foliage that the caterpillars will be eating. Always read and follow the label directions when spraying any pesticide.
Special thanks to Walter Forkey for bringing this caterpillar pest to my attention and sending me some photos. He was able to successfully get rid of them with an approved pesticide and hopefully his azaleas will recover nicely in the spring.
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FAQ
What kind of caterpillar has a redhead?
Young azalea caterpillars, Datana major, are small green worms that grow into medium purple worms and then into large black- and yellow-striped worms with …
Is the red-headed azalea caterpillar poisonous?
One control option is to pick the caterpillars off (don’t worry, they are harmless to humans) of azaleas and discard in a bucket of soapy water.
How do you get rid of red headed caterpillars?
Biological control and spot-pruning of infested shoots are sufficient to manage this pest in most situations. Insecticide application can be warranted if caterpillars are abundant and their feeding damage is intolerable, especially when trees are small, already stressed, or unhealthy from other causes.
Is a tussock moth caterpillar poisonous?
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Not Poisonous or Venomous:Tussock moth caterpillars are not poisonous if ingested or venomous if they bite or sting.
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Irritating Hairs:The hairs on their bodies, also known as urticating hairs, can irritate the skin and cause an itchy, burning sensation or rash.
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Defense Mechanism:These hairs are a defense mechanism against predators like birds, salamanders, and toads.
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How the Hairs Cause Irritation:The hairs are like tiny fiberglass fibers that embed easily in mucous tissues, like a bird or salamander’s mouth, or in human skin.
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Reactions Vary:Some people may have no reaction to the hairs, while others may experience a mild to severe reaction.
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The cocoons are made of the same hairs, so they can also cause irritation.
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are known to cause severe and long-lasting rashes.
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What to Do:If you come into contact with a tussock moth caterpillar and develop a rash, wash the area with soap and water, and apply calamine lotion or ice packs for relief. Seek medical attention if your reaction is severe.
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have stinging hairs that can puncture the skin and cause hives and skin rashes.
Which caterpillar has a bright red head?
Another caterpillar with a bright red head is the Western Red-Humped Caterpillar (Oedemasia salicis). This is a species that only shows a red head into its late instars, as it’s born as a yellow to the orange caterpillar. It triples in size and it becomes yellow and black or orange and black in its late growth stages.
Why do caterpillars have red heads?
Caterpillars might have red heads to appear more dangerous. Red is a coloring that may associate them with a potentially poisonous species. A red head might also be an adaptation to the coloring of the environment. These types of caterpillars are present in different areas of the United States.
What does a caterpillar look like?
Older caterpillars reach 1 to 1–1/2 inches long and have yellowish-orange bodies with lengthwise black and white stripes. Second through four instars have blackish or red heads, and the fifth (last) instar has a red head.
Which caterpillars are black & red?
While black and red nuances are dominant, its white tubercles make the caterpillar take on a different look in front of predators. Numerous hosts are noted for this species, including orchid tree varieties. 4. Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillars (Battus philenor) are often black and red.
How many types of red caterpillars are there?
The article “11 Types of Red Caterpillars with Accompanying Pictures” is a comprehensive guide to the eleven different species of red caterpillars found in North America. It provides readers with a detailed description of each caterpillar species, including their scientific name, physical characteristics, habitat, and preferred food sources.
What does a red humped caterpillar look like?
A bright red nuance is specific to this caterpillar even if some can show red to brown nuances on their heads. Removing these caterpillars immediately is recommended as they can be highly damaging to the ecosystem. Complete tree defoliation is possible years after a Red-humped Caterpillar outbreak occurs.