Greenstriped Mapleworm
Dryocampa rubicunda |
| USDA Forest Service. 1979. A guide to common insects and diseases of forest trees in the northeastern United States. Northeast. Area State Priv. For., For. Insect and Disease Management., Broomall, PA. p. 123, illus. |
The greenstriped mapleworm defoliates hardwood stands, particularly maple, during July. Serious injury can follow several years of defoliation. Boxelder and oak may be defoliated severely, particularly when mixed with maple.
The moths emerge in June and lay eggs in clusters of about 40 on the undersides of leaves. The eggs hatch in 10 days, and the young caterpillars begin feeding on the leaves and scatter early. Full-grown caterpillars, about 1½ inches long, have reddish heads and pale yellow-green bodies; seven dark green or black stripes run the length of the body. Caterpillars have prominent horns near the head, two rows of short spines along the side of each body segment, and four larger spines near the tail. Maturing in about 4 weeks, they drop to the ground and form pupal cells in the soil, where they overwinter. Some adults emerge in late summer and may start a second generation. This is more common in the South, where the second generation larvae may complete their development and overwinter as pupae.
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