The Laugher (caterpillar)

Description:

This is the caterpillar stage of the Marbled Tuffet Moth. It was approximately 4-5 cm long with a black head and white markings across its face. It was very fuzzy with white hair-like extensions all over it's body.

Habitat:

We have oak trees in our front yard and it looked as if it may have dropped from the tree above onto my car. This seems late in the season to see a caterpillar, but that may be due to the mild weather we have been experiencing in East Texas. According to the Encyclopedia of Life, the larvae feed on the leaves of beech. Other recorded hosts include birch, elm, maple and oak. They overwinter as the pupa stage.

Notes:

Such a pretty, delicate, gracefully moving little caterpillar! It was a joy to see.