Citheronia regalis Caterpillar Hickory Horned Devil 5 inches long
The regal moth (Citheronia regalis), also called the royal walnut moth, is a North American moth in the saturniidae family. The caterpillars are called hickory horned devils. Citheronia regalis is considered a common species in the Deep South, becoming rarer and more sporadic northward. Historically recorded throughout New England, the species suffered a decline in the Atlantic Northeast during the mid-20th century. This may be related to DDT spraying, the use of Bt to combat gypsy moth infestation, and the deployment of the non-native Compsilura fly as a bio-control agent backfiring in producing declines of saturniid species. Excluding sparse contemporary records from New York, regalis achieves range stability in the mid Atlantic states and southern Appalachia, beginning from southern New Jersey west throughout the Ohio Valley, the edge of the Great Plains states and south to East Texas.
Size: 3572px × 5150px
Photo credit: © Phil Degginger / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: bug, catepillar, caterpillar, citheronia, devil, entomology, hickory, horned, hungry, insect, larva, pest, regalis
