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Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis
Fairly large caterpillar with black and white markings on head and front part of body. Despite their name, they do not feed exclusively on evergreen plants. These caterpillars create silk bags when they are young, that are dragged around through the rest of the caterpillar's larval stage. They attach plant bits to the case from various feed sources for camouflage. When ready to pupate, they attach the bag to a branch with additional silk.
Temperate woodland. Rockwood Park, Virginia.
Males hatch out, rubbing off most of their wing scales in the process. Females never leave their bags and are legless and wingless. Link provided shows images of adult males and more larva
Spotted on Jul 30, 2016
Submitted on Mar 8, 2019
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