Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center


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Caterpillars of Eastern Forests

Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae)

Although a large family, few brush-footed butterflies feed on forest trees and shrubs. Those that do sport hard, branched, thickened spines called scoli, which challenge the gullets of their would-be predators. They tend to be large-headed, at least relative to width of the first thoracic segment. The body is covered with numerous setae especially below the level of the spiracles. The crochets—of 1, 2, or most commonly 3 lengths—are arranged in series that parallels the body axis. Coloration is highly variable, especially across different regions of the country.

Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton)	Diana Fritillary (Speyeria diana)	Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)	Comma (Polygonia comma)	Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)

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