Fall Webworm (Caterpillar)

Description:

Fall webworms come in two races with slightly different coloration. This orange-headed specimen is an example of the southern race. I'm still not 100% sure about the species identification because there are so many fuzzy white moth larvae that look similar, and I'm used to seeing the fall webworms with a denser coat. In this case, I think it likely that this specimen has rubbed off or broken off most of the longer hairs in its search for a place to pupate.

Habitat:

The moth is native to North America, ranging from Canada to Mexico. (Accidentally introduced from North America to Yugoslavia in the 1940s, and has since spread throughout Europe; later introduced to northern China and North Korea.)

Notes:

Spotted at Barnes Creek Falls Picnic Area in the Cohutta Wilderness