CLOSED: Tent caterpillars

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MotherNature4 Bartow, FL(Zone 9a) Aug 05, 2009

This mass was on the trunk of a Pignut Hickory in July. There was a tent high in the tree. The next day they were gone.
Were they molting?

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Aug 07, 2009

bumping up. every time i look at this picture, it gets creepier!

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Aug 07, 2009

They look a lot like some of the Prominent moth caterpillars (Notodontidae) but I'm not sure...some moths in the genus Datana are very similar.

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MotherNature4 Bartow, FL(Zone 9a) Aug 07, 2009

I don't care about the scientific name, I just want to know what is happening. Do caterpillars molt???

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Aug 07, 2009

yes, they do. i don't know if that's what is happening here. after they "hatch", they continue to stay together for a period of time. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/anatomy/Caterpillar.shtml

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Aug 07, 2009

I think that claypa is spot on - these do appear to be a Datana sp.; possibly Datana angusii, whose preferred host plants all are in the family Juglandaceae (butternut, hickory, walnut).

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MotherNature4 Bartow, FL(Zone 9a) Aug 09, 2009

I want to thank all of you for your responses.

I especially like the web site because it opens many more doors. I'm forwarding it to other naturalist friends.

My guess is that they were molting, though the difference in the long hairs and head color was a bit confusing. Isn't Nature wonderful. What a creation we have.

I look forward to learning new things every day. Thanks again.

Audrey

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