Citheronia regalis, the regal moth or royal walnut moth, is a North American moth in the family Saturniidae.The caterpillars are called hickory horned devils.The adult has a wingspan of 3.75-6.1 in (9.5-15.5 cm).The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793.. An adult regal moth The hickory horned devil is our largest caterpillar. The regal moth, adult of the hickory horned devil. Host Plants Hickory horned devils are sometimes found on walnut, hickories, pecan, sweetgum, persimmon, and even sumac. The small caterpillars eat very small amounts of foliage, but the later stages consume considerable amounts of leaves.
Hickory Horned Devil Photograph by Jeffrey Lepore
common name: hickory horned devil (larva), regal moth or royal walnut moth (adult) scientific name: Citheronia regalis (Fabricius) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Ceratocampinae) Introduction - Distribution - Description - Life Cycle - Hosts - Natural Enemies - Selected References Introduction (Back to Top) The spectacular caterpillar of this species is famous enough to have its own name: hickory horned devil. When mature, they can be up to 5½ inches long. There's really no mistaking them. Hickory horned devils (Fig. 1) are caterpillars of the regal moth or royal walnut moth, Citheronia regalis (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). This native species can be found in much of the eastern half of the United States to Texas and the Midwest, but are more common in the south. Figure 1. Hickory horned devil (Clifford Andrews, Bugwood.org). Measuring about 6 inches long (yikes!) and about as fat as a hot dog (double yikes!), Hickory Horned Devils vary in color depending on their age - some are bright green and others are orange. Their size isn't the only thing that makes them scary looking - they're also ringed with prickly black spikes along the length of their body.
Meet the Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar, Fierce in Appearance but Harmless Owlcation
The Hickory Horned Devil is a fascinating creature that you should know about. Known as the largest caterpillar in North America, this insect is the larval stage of the Regal Moth, scientifically named Citheronia regalis. Despite their alarming appearance, Hickory Horned Devils are actually harmless creatures. The hickory horned devil is among the largest of our native saturniid caterpillars. It is 12.5 to 14 cm in length—about the size of a large hot dog. The caterpillars vary slightly in color, but are commonly blue-green. Royal Walnut Moth Citheronia regalis (Fabricius, 1793) | Butterflies and Moths of North America. Royal Walnut Moth Hickory Horned Devil (caterpillar) Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Citheronia regalis (Fabricius, 1793) original combination Bombyx regalis Fabricius, 1793; Ent. Syst. 3 (1): 436 syn. Citheronia saengeri Neumoegen, 1891 syn. Citheronia infernalis Strecker, 1883 * phylogenetic sequence #224200 Numbers
Hickory Horned Devil Immature Form Walter Reeves The Gardener
Hickory Horned Devil / Regal Moth Citheronia regalis 1 2 3 Summary 4 The regal moth ( Citheronia regalis ), also called the royal walnut moth, is a North American moth in the family Saturniidae. The caterpillars are called hickory horned devils. The adult (imago) has a wingspan of 3.75-6.1 in (9.5-15.5 cm). Life cycle 5 Hickory horned devil caterpillars look fierce and can be almost as big as a hot dog, but they're harmless. They have green bodies (that become turquoise as they age) and lots of prickled, orangey horn-like structures on their heads.
As you can see, a Hickory-horned Devil Caterpillar is huge, but it also has predators, which include birds (they are the primary food source for many birds), ladybird beetles, yellow jackets and human beings. But, so is the regal moth with a wingspan of 4-6 inches (and, females are larger than males). They are common southward but rare northward. Hickory Horned Devil - Regal Moth Ilse Knatz Ortabasi 12.7K subscribers Share 175K views 15 years ago Meet the largest caterpillar in North America! And watch it turn into a beautiful moth.
On the Subject of Nature Hickory Horned Devil
Adult hickory horned devils are called Regal Moths, or Royal Walnut Moths. These big, heavy-bodied moths have a wingspan of four to six inches and are tan and orange with yellow markings. This is the rare "Regalis Moth" that was so eagerly sought by Elnora in the 1909 novel, and subsequent movies, A Girl of the Limberlost. Blake Layton. The Hickory Horned Devil is the caterpillar stage of the Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), one of the largest moths in North America. This remarkable creature caught the eye of naturalists due to its dramatic appearance, featuring an array of long, spiky horns along its back. An Eye-Catching Sight: Physical Features of the Hickory Horned Devil
