Rare and Unusual Caterpillar on Poplar

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I had never seen or heard of the poplar tentmaker (Closter inclusa) until we ran into this unusual caterpillar on its namesake host during the Greater Cincinnati Diagnostic Walk-About last Monday at the Boone County Arboretum.  In fact, it took me a while to identify this seldom-seen defoliator.

 

Poplar Tentmaker

 

I felt better about my lengthy ID challenge after reading what David Wagner wrote about the moth behind the caterpillar in his book, "Caterpillars of Eastern North America."  He noted, "It is rare – should you find its caterpillar or secure livestock, take notes and images."

 

Such is often the case with seldom seen native moths.  They fly below the radar until they or their caterpillars appear out of the blue to test our resolve for making an insect identification.

 

Wagner and other sources indicate the caterpillars feed on various members of the Populus genus as well as willows (Salix spp.).  We found the caterpillars feeding on a hybrid poplar (P. deltoidies x P. heterophylla 'Rainbow River').

 

Poplar Tentmaker

 

The caterpillars are "tentmakers" in the truest sense of the word.  When I hear "tent-making caterpillars," I think of silk nests like those produced by eastern tent caterpillars (Malacosoma americanum).  However, the poplar tentmaker actually constructs tents by using silk to stick together two or more leaves.  Then they line their dangling domiciles with a cozy layer of silk.

 

Poplar Tentmaker

 

Poplar Tentmaker

 

Poplar Tentmaker

 

Poplar Tentmaker

 

The caterpillars spend the day hanging out inside their protective silk-lined tents no doubt dodging predators and perhaps exchanging grand plans for after they pupate.  They venture forth at night to feed on leaves consuming everything except the main veins.  If not for the odd dangling "tents," their leaf damage could easily be mistaken for damage caused by a general defoliator such as yellownecked caterpillars (Datana ministra).

 

Poplar Tentmaker

 

Poplar Tentmaker

 

Poplar Tentmaker

 

Yellownecked Caterpillars

 

The look-a-like leaf symptoms also extended to sawfly larvae we found on the same poplars populated by the tentmaker.  Thus far, I've not been successful in identifying the sawfly.  The larvae looked identical to the species, Nematus calais.  However, this species is reported to only feed on willow.  Regardless, had the sawfly larvae not been present, it would have been easy to assume all of the leaf damage was being caused by the tentmaker.  

 

Sawfly on Poplar

 

Sawfly on Poplar

 

The poplar tentmaker has 3 – 4 generations in the southern U.S. and we saw evidence there are at least 2 generations in our part of the country.  The moth may be rare, but that does not mean its caterpillars will not occasionally cause noticeable defoliation.  However, reports indicate the most significant damage occurs late in the growing season after trees have already generated and stored enough carbohydrate to support the production of new leaves next season.  Consequently, the poplar tentmaker probably has a limited impact on the overall health of its host trees.