Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Red-headed Inchworm (Macaria bisignata)

Maier, C.T., C.R. Lemmon, J.M. Fengler, D.F. Schweitzer, and R.C. Reardon. 2004. Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. FHTET-2004-1. Morgantown, WV: USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team; 151 p.

Description. Greenish body with faintly marked head and with prominent, pale subdorsal stripe. Greenish head with lobes streaked with light brown (some light green reticulation in light brown); streak on lobes with white margins (extensions of subdorsal and spiracular stripes); greenish brown thoracic legs. Mostly yellowish green dorsum; green middorsal stripe edged with white; white subdorsal and spiracular stripes, the latter less distinct. Up to 22 mm.

Food. Eastern white pine.

Life Cycle. One to two generations. Pupa overwinters in soil or debris. Mature caterpillar present from July to November.

Comments. In addition to this caterpillar, the white pine angle, Macaria pinistrobata, and the minor angle, M. minorata, are common on eastern white pine. Of these three species, the red-headed inchworm usually has the least amount of frosting on the dorsum. Until recently, the red-headed inchworm was known as Semiothisa bisignata.

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