Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

White-fringed Emerald (Nemoria mimosaria)

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. Brownish body with obvious, fleshy, wing-like subdorsal processes. Brown mottled head with angular lobes; small pair of prothoracic tubercles. Dark brown, sometimes broken, middorsal and subdorsal stripes. Forward-pointing, subdorsal flaps on A2 to A4 (and sometimes other segments); each outgrowth with two spines, the first being longer; upward-pointing, paired dorsal tubercles on A8. Light brown oblique line edged with dark brown on side of some segments; light brown subspiracular stripe on abdomen. Up to 15 mm.

Food. Many trees and shrubs, including balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern larch, and spruces.

Life Cycle. One generation. Pupa overwinters in soil or debris. Mature caterpillar present from August to October.

Comments. No other common caterpillar on conifers can be confused with this species. Against a brown or a mottled background, such as a twig or bark, the caterpillar of the white-fringed emerald is cryptic. As the common name suggests, this species develops into a beautiful green moth with a white line through the wings.

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