Buck moth caterpillar Hemileuca maia
Once gregarious, the brushy line disperses seeking earth and change
Beware this spiny black caterpillar with white spots and a reddish head! These spines defend the caterpillar from predators and contain a toxin that causes an intense stinging reaction, likened to a bee sting. Adult moths lay their eggs primarily on oak trees. You may see groups of the small, newly hatched caterpillars moving in a line as they feed along the branches. When they are ready to form their chrysalids, they burrow into the leaf litter at the base of a tree, where they may stay for up to two years!
Cheryl Ragland Buck Moth Caterpillars Onyx, crystals, and glass beads on photograph 12 x 12 $200
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