Redhumped Oak Worm – Symmersia canicosta
Redhumped Oak Worm – Symmersia canicosta
Common Name: Redhumped Oakworm
Latin Name: Symmerista canicosta
Appearance:
Redhumped Oakworm caterpillars have a unique look. Its body is usually green, and pale lines are going along its sides. The caterpillar’s popular name comes from the very noticeable hump or “red hump” on its back. When it is fully grown, the caterpillar is about 1.5 to 2 inches long and strong.
Host Plant:
The Redhumped Oakworm really likes to eat oak trees, as its name suggests. They eat the leaves of many kinds of oak trees, which can lead to tree death when there are a lot of them.
Territory:
The Redhumped Oakworm lives in the eastern part of North America, mostly in wooded woods and places with lots of oak trees. It happens a lot in places where oak trees are the main type of tree.
Damages caused by Redhumped Oakworm:
Redhumped Oakworm larvae, which are called caterpillars, can damage oak trees by eating a lot of their leaves during outbreaks. Oak trees usually get back to normal after losing a few leaves. Still, frequent or serious infestations may stress the trees out and make them more vulnerable to other environmental factors or diseases.
Life History and Habitat:
Life Cycle: The Redhumped Oakworm goes through a full transformation with egg, larva, pupa, and adult forms.
- Egg:In the spring, adult moths lay their eggs on the undersides of oak leaves.
- Larva:The egg opens, and the caterpillar goes through several change phases. It grows up eating oak leaves and is fully grown before it pupates.
- Pupa:The pupal stage takes place in the dirt or leaf litter.
- Adult:The moth finally comes out of its pupa stage as an adult, which usually happens in late summer or early fall.