Wisconsin Native Caterpillars
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).