Appearance
Forest tent caterpillars are just over 2 inches (5 cm) in length, although some have been reported to grow to 4 or 5 inches as well, black or dark brown or gray with blue and faint yellow longitudinal stripes. Each abdominal segment bears a white spot. The caterpillars have long setae, giving them a furry look. The adult moth that emerges after pupation is yellow or tan with a thick, short, furry body. The wingspan is about 1.5 inches (3 cm). It is rather strictly nocturnal, starting to fly soon after nightfall and by and by returning to rest in the latter half of the night (Fullard & Napoleone 2001).
It is not known with certainty how far egg-laden female moths tend to fly. There is one credible report of moths flying hundreds of kilometres with the assistance of an unusually strong wind.
Read more about this topic: Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth
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