Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacasoma americanum)
Image Copyright Rinske Hackman
Observed: November 2015
Observed By: Rinske Hackman
The Eastern tent caterpillar is the juvenile form of the the lappet moth. It is covered in immensely long hairs that serve as protection from predators.
Upon hatching thes ecaterpillars gather together under a tent that they weave out of silk until they have grown to a stage where they can progress alone.
The Wikipedia entry is particularly informative about pretty much everything you could ever think of to ask about this animal.
