Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

American Dagger

The larval stage of Acronicta americana is more spectacular than the adult moth.

These can be white-haired as well as yellow, but the long black setae are found in all forms. (Anything so extravagantly attired should be expected to be irritable to the skin.)

They’re generalists and find ash, elm, hickory, oak, willow, and several other trees species most suitable hosts.

One response to “American Dagger”

  1. Thank you for the photos of the fuzzy yellow caterpillar.
    Janine Perky

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