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Schizura ipomoeae
A leaf-mimic caterpillar. Looks like the dead edge of a leaf. Has fine setae (hairs) on segments (that were not visible until I processed the image). It has two red pegs on the 1st abdominal segment and smaller pegs on the 4th, 5th,, and 8th abdominal segments.
Distributed throughout the United States and southern Canada feed on the leaves of various woody plants, including Beech (Fagus), Birch (Betula), Elm (Ulnus), Maple (Acer), Morning-glories (Ipomoea), Oak (Quercus), and Rose (Rosa) species Can be found from May to October.
This caterpillar was approximately 1.5 inches long and was found on an ornamental witchhazel (Hamamelis sp.). I found another smaller caterpillar – approximately 1 inch long – on this plant. Schizura unicornis has a very similar caterpillar. The head stripes and humped A5 (fifth abdominal segment) of this species are listed as distinctive in Wagner (3) p. 314. S. unicornis – see http://bugguide.net/node/view/454269, also has a white V-shape over A6 and A7 which S. ipomoeae lacks.
Spotted on Jun 25, 2015
Submitted on Jun 26, 2015
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