RECOGNITION Instantly identified by its “forked tail” and close association with sycamore. Pale green with broad white dorsal stripe infused with brick-red spots. Head with pair of medial white lines that diverge to follow edges of the triangle and conspicuous, broad reddish band, edged below with white that extends to the antenna. Larva to 4cm.
OCCURRENCE Edges of watercourses, wetlands, and parks from Missouri to Massachusetts south to northern Florida and Texas. At least two generations with mature caterpillars from May to November.
COMMON FOODPLANTS Sycamore; reports from cottonwood and other foodplants may be in error.
REMARKS This interesting caterpillar is anything but drab its moniker is derived from the plebian appearance of the adult. The larva rests with its head partially pulled within the thorax (inset). Look for the Drab Prominent on leaf undersides, positioned over the midrib or a strong secondary vein. I have had consistent success searching saplings and young sycamore plants in late summer. In early instars, the anal prolegs account for more than half of the body length. Alarmed larvae shunt blood (hemolymph) into their anal prolegs, enlarging them further, and flail them about the body. In each successive instar, the anal prolegs become proportionately smaller and lose erectile capacity. The pupa overwinters.
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