Redhumped Caterpillar – Schizura concinna
Redhumped Caterpillar (Schizura concinna)
Common Name: Redhumped Caterpillar
Latin Name: Schizura concinna
Appearance:
Red-humped Caterpillars are easy to spot because of how they look. It gets its name “redhumped” because its body is bright green and has a big bump or knob on the back. The head is brown sometimes, and the body has pale lines running down it. The color of its skin and the big bump on its back make it different from other worm species.
Host Plant:
The Redhumped Caterpillar feeds a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs. Many types of host plants have been seen getting infected with it, such as cherry, apple, oak, and willow trees.
Territory:
Redhumped Caterpillars are found across North America in a variety of settings, including gardens, orchards, and natural forest regions where their host plants flourish.
Damages caused by Redhumped Caterpillar:
The Redhumped Caterpillar’s larvae (caterpillars) can defoliate its host plants. They graze on the leaves, and their ravenous hunger can cause obvious harm, especially in high population densities. While individual caterpillars may not cause significant harm, massive infestations can create stress on host plants and negatively impact their overall health.
Life History and Habitat:
- The Redhumped Caterpillar goes through a complete metamorphosis, comprising of egg, larval, pupal, and adult phases.
- Egg:Adult moths lay eggs on the undersides of leaves throughout the spring.
- Larva:The caterpillar emerges from the egg and has multiple moults. It eats voraciously on host plant leaves during this larval stage.
- Pupa:The caterpillar finally pupates in the soil or leaf litter.
- Adult:After emerging from the pupa, the cycle continues.