Native Plants

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Friday - August 03, 2007

From: Charlestown, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders
Title: Identification of worm feeding on chockecheery
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I am looking to find out what sort of worm looking insect, is commonly found on chokecherry trees. It has a turquoise appearance with yellow fingerlike projections on the back. It suctions onto the limbs and is hard to get off. It seems to eat the leaves. It is as long as your pinkie and as thick as your thumb. Any help?

ANSWER:

This sounds a lot like one of the Cecropia moth larvae, such as Hyalophora cecropia. You can see another picture of the larva and one that shows the adults as well.

Another possibility is Samia cecropia. You can see a picture of it feeding on rusty blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum).