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The caterpillars live from August to May in feeding tunnels and round chambers under the bark of tree trunks. The infestation can be recognized by the light brown caterpillar droppings, which appear in bark cracks. Preference is given to old trees and those weakened by annual tree pruning.
The caterpillars are mostly found in oak trees or on the ground under them in late spring and early summer, and do not live on fences, walls, etc. as other caterpillars do. They have very long, white hairs contrasting markedly with shorter hairs. [1] The caterpillars of several other species may be mistaken for the oak processionary. [3]
The oak leafrollers feed on all types of oak trees, but are especially prone to infestations in northern red oak, scarlet oak, and species found on mountain and ridge tops such as chestnut oak and white oak. In addition to oaks, Archips semiferanus have been known to feed on witchhazel and apple trees occasionally.
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The oak beauty caterpillar is brown, marbled with white, and has two small red lumps on the back of its eighth, ninth and twelfth segments and a small lump on the belly on the seventh, eighth and ninth segments. The caterpillar's head is slightly notched in the middle, possibly due to evolutionary pressures to resemble twigs in appearance.
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The caterpillar is a serious pest that attacks more than 30 crops. The larva bores into the trunk or branches about 15–25 cm deep. The tunnel created is empty in the day time, but is filled with caterpillar during the night. It damages the bark of the tree resulting in dieback of the stem. Frass is visible in affected areas. [4]
Larvae prefer oak trees, but may feed on many species of trees and shrubs, both hardwood and conifer. [ 6 ] : 16 In the eastern US, the gypsy moth prefers leaves of oaks, aspen , apple , sweetgum , speckled alder , basswood , gray birch , paper birch , poplar , willow , and hawthorns , among other species. [ 26 ]