| 1150087 |
forest tent caterpillar |
Malacosoma disstria |
Egg masses typically encircle a small branch and the larvae hatch in the early spring as the leaves are unfolding from their buds. |
| 1150131 |
elm sawfly |
Cimbex americana |
The elm sawfly is not considered a problem in forest situations, but can be a defoliator of shade and ornamental elm and willow trees. The elm sawfly is the largest North American sawfly with larvae reaching a length of almost two inches. The larvae pictured here were found feeding on an American elm tree in Bastrop, Texas (near Austin, TX) on May 2, 2002. Larvae are a yellowish-white color and possess a black dorsal stripe. While feeding, the larvae usually coil their posterior around a leaf or twig. At rest the larvae roll into a characteristic tight coil. The larvae spin tough, papery cocoons in the litter or just below the surface of the soil. |
| 0007053 |
cecropia moth |
Hyalophora cecropia |
near Russelville, Arkansas, on June 26, 2001. |
| 0007054 |
cecropia moth |
Hyalophora cecropia |
near Russelville on June 26, 2001. |
| 0007055 |
cecropia moth |
Hyalophora cecropia |
near Russelville, Arkansas, on June 26, 2001. |
| 2109027 |
catalpa sphinx |
Ceratomia catalpae |
larva can show considerable color variation |
| 0007071 |
question mark |
Polygonia interrogationis |
It is a common butterfly in the southern United States. The larva of this brushfooted butterfly is covered with spines and elm is its preferred host. |
| 0007058 |
truncated true katydid |
Paracyrtophyllus robustus |
The katydids were found on many other objects, including the trunks of trees at spot |
| 1150123 |
elm sawfly |
Cimbex americana |
The elm sawfly is not considered a problem in forest situations, but can be a defoliator of shade and ornamental elm and willow trees. The elm sawfly is the largest North American sawfly with larvae reaching a length of almost two inches. The larvae pictured here were found feeding on an American elm tree in Bastrop, Texas (near Austin, TX) on May 2, 2002. Larvae are a yellowish-white color and possess a black dorsal stripe. While feeding, the larvae usually coil their posterior around a leaf or twig. At rest the larvae roll into a characteristic tight coil. The larvae spin tough, papery cocoons in the litter or just below the surface of the soil. This mature larva was found on the ground, probably searching for a pupation site. |
| 2109033 |
puss caterpillar |
Megalopyge opercularis |
|
| 2109028 |
catalpa sphinx |
Ceratomia catalpae |
larva can show considerable color variation - dark form |
| 2109032 |
catalpa sphinx |
Ceratomia catalpae |
|
| 1150118 |
walkingstick |
Anisomorpha spp. |
This walkingstick is found in parts of the southern US. The male is much smaller than the female and when they are mating, the female carries the male. In fact the male is so small and well camouflaged, he is hard to see. When disturbed, they will give off a foul-smelling odor in the form of a fine mist. |
| 2109029 |
catalpa sphinx |
Ceratomia catalpae |
larva can show considerable color variation - Intermediate form |
| 5424346 |
whitemarked tussock moth |
Orgyia leucostigma |
|
| 5424340 |
ilia underwing |
Catocala ilia |
|
| 5424348 |
Geometrid moth |
Lycia ypsilon |
|
| 5424347 |
Geometrid moth |
Lycia ypsilon |
|
| 5424336 |
alope sphinx |
Erinnyis alope |
|
| 0007052 |
cecropia moth |
Hyalophora cecropia |
Mature cecropia moth larva feeding on black cherry, June 26, 2001.
3rd place in the 2002 Southern Forest Insect Work Conference Photo Salon in the Insect category. |
| 9009061 |
elm sawfly |
Cimbex americana |
|
| 1150138 |
cecropia moth |
Hyalophora cecropia |
|
| 1150140 |
cecropia moth |
Hyalophora cecropia |
|
| 2109017 |
Texas leafcutting ant |
Atta texana |
|
| 2109034 |
puss caterpillar |
Megalopyge opercularis |
underside |
| 2109030 |
catalpa sphinx |
Ceratomia catalpae |
prepupae |
| 0007043 |
larger canna leafroller |
Calpodes ethlius |
Mature larvae are nearly two inches long. Note the network of tracheae that originate from the spiracles and the characteristic dark triangle on the frontal region of the head capsule. |
| 0007059 |
common true katydid |
Pterophylla camellifolia |
Photographed in June 2001. The northern true katydid is green rather than the brown color of the truncated true katydid. |
| 0007056 |
truncated true katydid |
Paracyrtophyllus robustus |
Defoliated post oak trees were found and checked in July 2001 as part of off-plot forest health monitoring. It was determined that an area of about 1000-2000 acres was impacted. |
| 0007057 |
truncated true katydid |
Paracyrtophyllus robustus |
Closer examination of damaged post oak trees revealed that a very unusual outbreak of the katydid was causing the defoliation. The katydids were found on post oak foliage and evidence of their feeding was very obvious |
| 1150144 |
Pandora sphinx |
Eumorpha pandorus |
The pandora moth is listed as a minor defoliator of plants in the grape family in Wagner, D. L., V. Giles, R. Reardon, and M. McManus. 1997. Caterpillars of Eastern Forests. USDA, FS. FHTET-96-34. Page 16. The larva occurs in an orange and a green color phase. The mature larva is about three inches long and the large, oval, white spiracle patches make the caterpillar quite showy. |
| 1150084 |
forest tent caterpillar |
Malacosoma disstria |
The forest tent caterpillar occurs throughout the eastern United States and is a defoliator of a wide variety of hardwood trees. This is the tent caterpillar that does not make a tent! There is one generation per year and the insect overwinters in the egg stage. An unusual outbreak of the forest tent caterpillar occurred in East Texas in the spring of 2002 where some 125,000 acres of bottomland mixed hardwood forest were moderately defoliated. Because they do not defoliate all the trees in mixed deciduous stands, light defoliation may be difficult to see from the air. Moderate defoliation shows up from the air as a gray-green color. |
| 1150085 |
forest tent caterpillar |
Malacosoma disstria |
As the larvae grow, they molt as a group and a concentration of cast larval skins can often be found. |
| 1150126 |
elm sawfly |
Cimbex americana |
The elm sawfly is not considered a problem in forest situations, but can be a defoliator of shade and ornamental elm and willow trees. The elm sawfly is the largest North American sawfly with larvae reaching a length of almost two inches. The larvae pictured here were found feeding on an American elm tree in Bastrop, Texas (near Austin, TX) on May 2, 2002. Larvae are a yellowish-white color and possess a black dorsal stripe. While feeding, the larvae usually coil their posterior around a leaf or twig. At rest the larvae roll into a characteristic tight coil. The larvae spin tough, papery cocoons in the litter or just below the surface of the soil. |
| 1150127 |
walkingstick |
Anisomorpha spp. |
This walkingstick is found in parts of the southern US. The male is much smaller than the female and when they are mating, the female carries the male. In fact the male is so small and well camouflaged, he is hard to see. When disturbed, they will give off a foul-smelling odor in the form of a fine mist. |
| 1150130 |
tersa sphinx |
Xylophanes tersa |
The naked pupa is usually found in the soil. |
| 1150088 |
forest tent caterpillar |
Malacosoma disstria |
The larvae feed on sweetgum, tupelo gum, black gum, and various species of oak. |
| 1150089 |
forest tent caterpillar |
Malacosoma disstria |
The larvae don’t construct a characteristic tent like the eastern tent caterpillar. Instead, they construct silk webbing that lies flat on the surface of the tree’s trunk and branches. The colorful larvae are easily identified by the "keyhole" or "footprint" pattern on their dorsal surface |
| 1150116 |
tersa sphinx |
Xylophanes tersa |
typical emerged adult |
| 0007045 |
larger canna leafroller |
Calpodes ethlius |
After about 10-14 days of feeding, the larva pupates. Notice the silk thread that secures the pupa on a pad of silk inside a folded canna leaf. Also note the characteristic anterior spine (right) and the enclosed proboscis extending beyond the cremaster (left). |
| 0007046 |
larger canna leafroller |
Calpodes ethlius |
After the adult emerges, the empty pupal skin is left behind. |
| 0007047 |
larger canna leafroller |
Calpodes ethlius |
A typical skipper and not particularly showy |
| 0007042 |
larger canna leafroller |
Calpodes ethlius |
A typical skipper larva having the constricted "neck" behind the head. |
| 0007072 |
question mark |
Polygonia interrogationis |
Chrysalis is rather drab and well camouflaged, except for about eight bright silver spots. They usually attach their posterior end to a leaf with silk threads and hang from the leaf until they emerge as adults. |
| 0007073 |
question mark |
Polygonia interrogationis |
A typical anglewing. It is a fast and strong flier and has beautiful markings on the uppersides of the wings. |
| 0007074 |
question mark |
Polygonia interrogationis |
The undersides of the wings resemble a dead leaf and bear the silver comma and dot typical of this species. |
