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eastern tent caterpillar |
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Malacosoma americanum |
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| Taxonomy | Order: |
Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) |
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Suborder: |
Glossata |
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Infraorder: |
Neolepidoptera |
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Parvorder: |
Heteroneura |
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No Rank: |
Ditrysia |
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No Rank: |
Obtectomera |
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Superfamily: |
Bombycoidea (hawk-moths) |
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No Rank: |
Bombyciformes |
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Family: |
Lasiocampidae (lappet moths) |
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Subfamily: |
Lasiocampinae (tent caterpillars) |
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Tribe: |
Malacosomatini |
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| Status |
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| Flight/Season | Late June to early July |
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| Habitat |
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| Size |
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| Identification |
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| Similar Species |
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| Larval Food | In Minnesota, black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina) is this caterpillar’s favorite host. It also attacks chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana), American plum (Prunus americana), paradise apple (Malus pumila), prairie crabapple (Malus ioensis), and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.). When its favorite trees are defoliated it may move to other, less desireable trees. |
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| Adult Food |
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| Life Cycle |
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| Behavior |
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| Range |  |
Sources: 7, 21. | |||||
| Sightings | Avon Hills Forest SNA |
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| Comments |
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| Images | |||||||
| Caterpillar |
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| Nest | |
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| Synonyms |
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| Common Names |
eastern tent caterpillar (larva) eastern tent caterpillar moth |
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