Saddleback caterpillar

The Saddleback Caterpillar is the larval form of a species of moth known as the Saddleback moth. The caterpillar is encountered more than the moth. The wing span of the moth is 26-43 mm. They range from Massachusetts south to Florida and west to eastern Missouri and Texas. The caterpillar is found from July to October and the moth is found from June to August in the North stretching to almost the entire year in the extreme South.

Body Design
The Saddleback Caterpillar is bout an inch long. It has four large tubules that have venomous spines. The Saddleback Caterpillar has four obvious horns on the front and the rear. These horns are covered in poisonous quills. Around the edges of the body, there are smaller hairs that lead to poison sacs. When touched, the caterpillar arches its back to get the most possible contact with the foreign object. The back of the caterpillar has a coloring that suggests that it has a saddle blanket on it, giving it it's name. Their camouflage allows them to blend in with fall leaves since they have a red and brown coloration on their bodies. What happened with most people that have gotten stung by the Saddleback Caterpillar is that they have gotten a rash and a fever although some cases have been different. 

Life Cycle
Normally, there is one generation per year and that takes place in the late summer. 

Ecology
The caterpillar enjoys other Saddlebacks company before it is fully grown and before going Its diet includes: grasses, shrubs, trees, and even garden plants. Adults emerge in mid-summer and lay their eggs. Therefore, catepillars normally feed in late summer. 

Since they do not reproduce to a massive extent, they are not considered pests. The Saddleback and the ecosystem it lives in, keep each other "in check". The Saddleback feeds on plants that could grow rapidly and take over and there are other animals or insects that will feed on the Saddleback to keep it from eating all of the plants in their environment.

Adult Stage
Adults emerge in mid-summer. The wings are glossy dark chocolate brown with a black shading. There is one white dot near the forewing base and one to three more near the apex. The hindwing is a paler brown. The females are larger than the males. The diet of the adult is unknown but they range from Massachusetts to Florida and west to eastern Missouri and Texas.