Northern Pearly-Eye Caterpillar

Genus-Species: Enodia anthedon

Description: Yellow-green with narrow yellow stripes, a dark stripe, two short, red-tipped tails and two reddish horns on the head.

Chrysalis: Green pendant often dangles from host grass blade.

Host Plants: Various grasses including white grass (Leersia virginica), bearded shorthusk (Brachyelytrum erectum), plumegrass (Erianthus), broadleaf uniola (Uniola latifolia), and bottlebrush (Hystrix patula).

Habitat: Damp deciduous woods, usually near marshes or waterways; mixed or grassy woodlands.

Comments: The Northern Pearly-Eye caterpillar is yellowish-green and up to 1¾″ long. The head is medium yellowish-green, is covered with whitish spots (granules), and has a pair of short, pink to red horns. The horns are shorter than the width of the head. The mandibles are blackened. The abdomen is light yellowish-green with a series of narrow slightly darker and slightly lighter stripes, including a broad green upper (middorsal) stripe and a yellowish-green stripe below the breathing openings (spiracles).

Adult Northern Pearly-Eye Butterfly Profile