Did You Know?

Some caterpillars are cryptically colored, mimicking the edge of a partially eaten, distorted leaf, while others are brightly colored and conspicuous. In some species, when the caterpillars are disturbed, they raise both ends of the body, holding onto the substrate with the four mid-abdominal prolegs and exposing glands that produce irritating acidic chemicals to ward off potential attackers. University of Missouri

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Unicorn Caterpillar

Date Submitted: September 3, 2008

Observer: Amy Waters

Observation Date: 9/2/08

Observation Time:

Observation Location:

Plant or Animal? Animal

Common Name: Unicorn Caterpillar

Scientific Name: Schizura unicornis

Unicorn Caterpillar

Comments: It is a Unicorn Caterpillar (Schizura unicornis)!!! It may have crawled off a blueberry bush. It also likes hickory, birch, maple, cherry, oak, sweet pepperbush, witch hazel, and many more woody shrubs and trees. Its range is from Canada to Florida and Texas. It will turn into a moth. Its family is Prominents - Notodontidae.

More Information: University of Missouri

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