Orangestriped Oakworm
Anisota senatoria |
| 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. |
This insect defoliates oaks in late summer. Although repeated defoliation may weaken the trees, the greatest damage is the esthetic impact and the nuisance the caterpillars create. Severe infestations rarely last more than 1 or 2 years.
Adults emerge from the soil in June and July, mate, and lay eggs in large clusters on the undersides of oak leaves. The eggs hatch in about a week, and the caterpillars begin to feed on leaf tissue, leaving only the ribs. The colonies break up early, and caterpillars scatter throughout the tree. Full-grown caterpillars are black and about 2 inches long, with eight yellow-orange stripes running the length of the body. The head is black and shiny. Two long, recurving spines are located behind the head; each body segment bears a shorter pair of spines. The oakworms mature in September or October, drop to the ground, and dig into the soil 3 to 4 inches, where they pupate. After overwintering as pupae, the adults emerge in June. There are sometimes two generations per year, depending on location.
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