Yellownecked Caterpillar

Yellownecked caterpillars feed in groups, sometimes called "colonies," numbering 10 – 30 individuals throughout their development. The colonies tend to consume leaves one branch at a time unless populations are high and multiple colonies are feeding on many branches.

This is the time of the season when Yellownecked Caterpillars can rapidly defoliate trees. Yellownecks feed in groups, sometimes called "colonies," numbering 10 – 30 individuals throughout their development. They are now reaching maturity meaning these gangs of large caterpillars can devour leaves at a rapid pace.

Thanks to the sharp eyes of Lenny Farlee (Extension Forester, Purdue University), the congregated yellownecked caterpillar (Datana ministra) colony shown in this picture was discovered yesterday during a diagnostic walk-about he, Kathy Smith (OSU Extension Program Director - Forestry), and I lead in Shawnee Lookout Park in southwest Ohio.  You may recognize the genus, Datana, because we've had a bumper crop of walnut caterpillars (D. integerrima) this season (see Alert on July 15, 2016, "Walnut Caterpillars on the Prowl").

 

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