Caterpillars of Eastern Forests

Eight-spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata)

Distinguished from other common eastern agaristine noctuids by its long white setae. Thoracic shield orange with black spotting; orange banding absent from second and third thoracic segments. Black addorsal setal bases raised on first, second, and eighth abdominal segments. Seven or 8 black rings per segment, although ring that runs through orange band often incomplete. Conspicuous creamy lateral patch extends across seventh abdominal segment and on to eighth. Other closely related Alypia species found in Florida and across the northern United States. Food: grapes and Virginia creeper. Caterpillar: May to September; 2 generations in South, 1 in North.

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