Saddleback Caterpillar Moth Acharia stimulea (Clemens, 1860)    Synonyms: Hodges #4700.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Limacodidae   >   Genus Acharia   

Description:

The spines of the caterpillar can give a vicious sting.

Relationships:

The Saddleback Caterpillar is a true generalist. Larval host plants include a variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses, including apples, dogwoods, maples, oaks, viburnums, blueberries, and sunflowers. In Baltimore County Saddleback Caterpillars have been observed feeding on Common Spicebush (P. Horn).

There are 484 records in the project database.

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Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/5/2013). (c) jrcagle, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jrcagle via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/13/2018). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/28/2017). Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/5/2014). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7/9/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (6/30/2013). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/24/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (7/15/2017). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/27/2016). Determined by Roger Downer/BAMONA. Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/8/2016). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (8/5/2021). (c) Mark Etheridge, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/4/2020). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7/10/2020). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/28/2017). (c) Barbara Thurlow, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/8/2020). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/1/2018). Photo by Jonathan Willey. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7/10/2020). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/4/2020). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A male Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7/2/2002). Photo by Larry Line. (MBP list)

A female Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7/4/2013). Photo by Larry Line. (MBP list)

A female Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (2005). Photo by Larry Line. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/16/2006). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar in Howard Co., Maryland (8/18/2015). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar in Howard Co., Maryland (9/2/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/26/2018). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar in Howard Co., Maryland (9/1/2014). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar in Howard Co., Maryland (7/30/2013). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/6/2022). (c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Benjamin Burgunder via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moths in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/26/2021). (c) mcnod, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by mcnod via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/27/2022). (c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Benjamin Burgunder via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth larva in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/11/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/10/2013). Photo by Sue Ricciardi. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar at Jemicy School in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/2013). Another first county record for Maryland Biodiversity Project contributed by Jemicy School! Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/24/2018). (c) botanygirl, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by botanygirl via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/29/2022). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar on buttonbush in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/16/2015). Photo by Rick Borchelt. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/23/2017). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth larva in Washington Co., Maryland (9/14/2020). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/9/2015). (c) Ryan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ryan Douglas. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/23/2017). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (8/27/2022). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/27/2022). (c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Benjamin Burgunder via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/23/2017). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/10/2023). (c) bsw md, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bsw_md via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (9/3/2021). (c) Mark Etheridge, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/26/2023). (c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Benjamin Burgunder via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Dorchester Co., Maryland (9/2/2023). (c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Benjamin Burgunder via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/22/2009). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth larva in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/16/2020). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (9/8/2020). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/26/2018). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (8/29/2021). (c) Giff Beaton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Giff Beaton via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/29/2022). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Dorchester Co., Maryland (9/2/2023). (c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Benjamin Burgunder via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/14/2020). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Baltimore City, Maryland (9/16/2020). (c) gitmichaels, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by gitmichaels via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (8/29/2021). (c) Giff Beaton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Giff Beaton via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth caterpillar in Harford Co., Maryland (9/27/2017). Photo by Bob Cammarata. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillars Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (9/5/2020). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/27/2021). (c) buggirl911, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by buggirl911 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth caterpillar feeding on Eastern Redbud in Carroll Co., Maryland (9/1/2022). Photo by Barbara Speckart. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar in Howard Co., Maryland (8/29/2021). A tiny, possibly parasitic wasp is just visible on the left. Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar covered with cocoons of the parasitic Braconid wasp Cotesia empretiae. Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/23/2014). It is covered with cocoons of the parasitic Braconid wasp Cotesia empretiae.rnrnFound by Emily Stanley and her students at Jemicy School. Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth cocoon in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/5/2006). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

A Saddleback Caterpillar Moth larva in Howard Co., Maryland (8/20/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)


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