The adult stage first appears in the morning, and mating occurs in the early afternoon. The host’s twigs are circled by clusters of eggs laid by females in the late afternoon.
The young caterpillars forage in packs when the eggs hatch the next spring after overwintering.
Caterpillars scurry around and create cocoons in ground leaf litter or a few inches below the surface in soft soil.
Host plant:
Host plants have various oaks, including dwarf chestnut oak, live oak, and scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia) (Q. prinoides). Oak, Blackjack (Q. marilandica),
Territory:
From Maine to Florida, the buck moth is found in the eastern United States. However, it has been seen as far west as Wisconsin, Kansas, and Texas.
Damages caused by Eastern Buck Moth:
Buck moth caterpillars yield a painful, burning sting when touched. Venom emitted from the caterpillar’s spines punctures the skin and enters via the incision, causing discomfort. The end effect is a blistering, red, and swollen area.
Life history and Habits:
Each ring has a distinct eyespot. Early afternoon is when moths mate after emerging in the morning. Eggs that will hatch the following spring spend the winter dormant. Caterpillar larvae eat in packs. Older buck moth caterpillars are typically black and spiny, but they occasionally have so many small white spots on them that they nearly appear white. Along the body, the spines are organized in several rows on bumps. On top, there are longer, more branching spines. When they reach adulthood, caterpillars travel downward to find cover in leaf litter or a few inches underground if the earth is loose enough. Caterpillars molt into pupae, and from September to December, moths emerge from the pupal skins, though some may take a year or two. Each year, there is just one generation.
