Orangestriped oakworm

The orangestriped oakworm is sometimes very abundant on oaks in late August and September. The moths emerge in June and July and deposit their eggs in clusters of several hundred on the underside of oak leaves. The eggs hatch in about a week or so. The tiny, green-colored caterpillars begin to feed together consuming leaves. Gradually small greenish caterpillars grow into larger black caterpillars with yellow or orange stripes running lengthwise along their bodies. These caterpillars have a prominent pair of spines or slender horns sticking up behind the head. As the caterpillars mature, they drop to the ground and are often seen crawling across sidewalks and driveways, yards, etc. These caterpillars may wander for a considerable distance while searching for a place to pupate. They dig into the soil three or four inches and pupate there.