Both of these green, inconspicuous caterpillars have some fancy headwear with names like “horns”, “spikelets”, or “antlers”. These features act as defense either to camouflage with their surroundings or scare away predators. Another common defense strategy is by hiding among others. Which of the two species, the Hackberry Emperor or the Northern Pearly-eye, feeds communally for the early part of its larval life?
The caterpillar on the left, the Tawny Emperor, is communal as a young caterpillar. The species on the Right, the Northern Pearly-eye feeds alone as a caterpillar.
A female Tawny Emperor will lay clusters of 200 – 500 eggs on Hackberry leaves and bark between June and August. The larvae hatch as small green, bumpy caterpillars with branching antler-like features on their heads. Early instars will feed communally to avoid predators such as birds. When winter comes around, the caterpillars will roll up dead leaves on the forest floor and hibernate together as a group.
The Northern Pearly-eye female lays individual eggs on various grasses during June – August. They will emerge as green, also bumpy caterpillars with two short reddish horns protruding from their heads. They will eat and morph through 3–4 instar stages until winter hibernation.
Photos by
Tawny Emperor by Tony Palmer (iNaturalist, CC-By-NC)
Picture cropped/resized for this quiz.
Northern Pearly Eye by hobiecat (iNaturalist, CC-By-NC)
Picture cropped/resized for this quiz.
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