“These are dropping out of my red oak tree”, writes Steve about the black and white-striped worm-like organism pictured below. “Do you have any idea what this is, or if it will damage my tree?” The creature in question has a segmented body, with vertical white stripes running down its black body. It has a bulbous black head with an orange stripe behind it, and what appears to be thin, white bristles sticking out from its body. Because of the excellent photo that Steve sent in, we are able to identify this as a Datana contracta moth caterpillar.

The adult moth is beautiful: having a soft, furry, brown coat and a red head that tops its striped wings. These creatures are nothing to fear, but the caterpillars will definitely damage Steve’s oak tree. The caterpillars are defoliators, meaning they eat the leaves of the plants they feed on, and they feed in large groups, so one can typically find them in huge clusters, working their way down a branch. In the case of Datana contracta caterpillars, these plants include chestnut and, yes, oak trees. Other sources claim that they also feed on witch-hazel, sycamore trees, blueberry bushes, though it has been disputed among worm enthusiasts and academics if that really is true. They are most prominently found in the Eastern United States, though they have also been known to show up in Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska, as well as Eastern Canada.

Oddly enough, not much more is known about this caterpillar. What we will say is that we recommend avoiding physical contact, as unforeseen allergic reactions can always occur. But like we said before, they are nothing to be scared of. Despite the lack of information online about these caterpillars, we doubt very much that the caterpillar is harmful – caterpillars do not typically sting or bite, nor are they ever parasitic to humans or pets. If this caterpillar did pose any kind of threat, there would likely be much more literature on it. We recommend that Steve just scoop the caterpillar onto a dustpan and move it outside.

In conclusion, the worm-like critters dropping out of Steve’s oak tree are Datana contracta moth caterpillars. As alarming as it can be to have caterpillars falling from one’s tree, there is nothing to be worried about here: all these guys want to do is munch on leaves. We hope this helps, and we wish Steve the very best!

Summary

Article Name

Striped Worms Dropping From Red Oak Tree are Datana Contracta Moth Caterpillars

Description

"These are dropping out of my red oak tree", writes Steve about the black and white-striped worm-like organism pictured below. "Do you have any idea what this is, or if it will damage my tree?" The creature in question has a segmented body, with vertical white stripes running down its black body. It has a bulbous black head with an orange stripe behind it, and what appears to be thin, white bristles sticking out from its body. Because of the excellent photo that Steve sent in, we are able to identify this as a Datana contracta moth caterpillar.

Author

Worm Researcher Anton