Hickory Horned Devil
Over the weekend my good friend Jeremy Martin came over with an exciting treat--a Hickory Horned Devil... the large caterpillar of the Regal Moth or the Royal Walnut Moth.
I had never seen the hickory horned devil, though I had known of the regal moth from insect manuals. Jeremy found this fascinating creature crossing a path at Prairie Oaks park west of Columbus, Ohio. He returned it to the park after allowing me to photograph these images.
The hickory horned devil in these photos measured around six inches in length. From what I've read online, the appearance of the caterpillar is a bluff--it looks ferocious but is harmless. Unlike most caterpillars that spin cocoons, the hickory horned devil burrows into the ground to transform into an adult moth.
Learn More About the Hickory Horned Devil
Hickory Horned Devil, MU Extension
Hickory Horned Devil, North Carolina
Hickory Horned Devil - Egg to Caterpillars
Hickory Horned Devil Photos
Learn More About the Regal Moth
Regal Moth - Citheronia regalis (Fabricius)
Note: Information on this page regarding the Hickory Horned Devil was collected from the links above, as well as from information collected by Jeremy Martin.
Also, see more caterpillar photos.
I had never seen the hickory horned devil, though I had known of the regal moth from insect manuals. Jeremy found this fascinating creature crossing a path at Prairie Oaks park west of Columbus, Ohio. He returned it to the park after allowing me to photograph these images.
The hickory horned devil in these photos measured around six inches in length. From what I've read online, the appearance of the caterpillar is a bluff--it looks ferocious but is harmless. Unlike most caterpillars that spin cocoons, the hickory horned devil burrows into the ground to transform into an adult moth.
Learn More About the Hickory Horned Devil
Hickory Horned Devil, MU Extension
Hickory Horned Devil, North Carolina
Hickory Horned Devil - Egg to Caterpillars
Hickory Horned Devil Photos
Learn More About the Regal Moth
Regal Moth - Citheronia regalis (Fabricius)
Note: Information on this page regarding the Hickory Horned Devil was collected from the links above, as well as from information collected by Jeremy Martin.
Also, see more caterpillar photos.
- Search for Wildlife Photos articles similar to "Hickory Horned Devil".
- Search all articles similar to "Hickory Horned Devil".
- List all Wildlife Photos articles by Shawn Olson.
- List Wildlife Photos articles from all authors.
Copyright © 2005-2008 by Shawn Olson.
< Amy Sorensen > at 2007-09-29 14:39:22 EST
My kids and I had gone to the backyard to play in Kingwood, TX and we found this huge catapillar in the grass. There was alot of excitment. I had no idea what kind of catapillar it was. Simple amazing to see a Hickory Horned Devil. Wow!
< Kim Entzminger > at 2007-09-24 18:14:09 EST
My two year old spotted this caterpillar in our backyard. He was understandably a little scared of it. We're in Western, SC. It's the first time I've ever seen one.
< Cody Spivey > at 2007-09-24 12:00:47 EST
We found one traveling across our golf course fairway here in Magnolia,Tx, just north of houston.
It will definitely catch your eye.
< CRAIG EDMUNDS > at 2007-09-23 21:41:47 EST
MY FAMILY AND I FOUND A HHD THAT FELL FROM AN OAK TREE TODAY IN SEWICKLEY, PA. IT WAS THE FIRST EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CREATURE. IT WAS QUITE FASCINATING TO OBSERVE. I AM NOW A FAN OF THE HHD.
< Ryan Smith > at 2007-09-19 09:36:36 EST
My kids found a hickory horned devil in our front yard last year. I have videos of it at:
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=17601581
We live in Hammond, Louisiana.
My Kym and Mark found it to be very interesting and a couple times a month we go "Hickory Horn Hunting" to no avail. Hope someone finds this useful.
< Ida Faye Gibson > at 2007-09-16 21:40:36 EST
My grand children found a HHD at Lake Milwood in Howard County Arkansas. They are in ahh at it and I am too as it said they come from the Eastern United States.
< Haley Gilbert > at 2007-09-13 19:54:16 EST
Early today, students at Seton Hill found a Hickory Horned Devil crawling along on the grounds! It was a really cool sight and attracted a lot of people!
Thanks for the info, it was really useful and neat to find out what the strange critter was.
< Miranda Zimmerman > at 2007-09-10 17:38:56 EST
Today I was bathing my two dogs in Pittsburgh PA, and after we I was done I had to tie my dogs up to let them dry so I had chosen to tie the one up by the walnut tree and as a reached down to tie the rope around the tree there was the Hicory Horned Devil Catipiller it was amazing I have it in a bug box and I will be taking it to my school tommorow.
< elise dauber > at 2007-08-30 23:52:30 EST
My friend Joe was walking through campus today and called me and said, 'hey you gotta come check out this caterpillar its huge.' not knowing what to expect I came out and saw one of these horned moth caterpillars and was shocked. it was the most amazing insect i have ever seen, and i will never forget that. we rushed to show our professor and he was estatic. oh the joys that mother nature brings!! i love it!
< Kate Barretta > at 2007-08-28 16:04:39 EST
Hi, We found this amazing creature today in our front yard, everyone we question was sure it was a new species of some kind. So the kids and their friends took it to the local vet and they found out exactly what it was, the funny thing is they actually had already named it horn devil, they came pretty close.
< Renee L > at 2007-08-22 19:23:45 EST
My friend and I were driving down Old River Road in Duncan Falls Ohio, when I seen the big huge bug going across on the other side of the road. I turned around and picked it up for my daughters show and tell at school. We did a big green caterpillar search online to find out what it was, and to our surprise is was a Hickory Horned Devil. What an awesome experience it has been for our family, and for the class of second graders that will view this awesome creation of Gods handy work. I will return it to the woods where I found it, after show and tell.
< Danielle Mangum > at 2007-08-12 15:34:11 EST
We Were walking the dogs at the dog park when we found this huge blue caterpillar. I was scared of it at first but my mom said just watch it and don't touch it because it had large spines that could be stingers. We watched it for a long time as it made its way accross the park. We could not wait to get home and try to find out what kind of moth or what kind of caterpillar it was. It was the Hicory Horned Devil we found out.
< Lynn Sherman > at 2007-08-03 21:49:51 EST
8/3/07 I live in Coinjock, North Carolina. While in the next town over getting gas my daughter spotted a Regal Moth. We had never seen one before and did not know what it was. My daughter, who is an advid photographer, pulled out her camera and took a picture. I was able to learn about the Hickory Horned Devil and that it turns into a Regal Moth. A special experience for me and my daughter.
< Kurtis Hough > at 2006-10-02 21:47:03 EST
Hello. I'm a computer animator working on a new animated short film about the Hickory Horned Devil/Regal Moth. In researching them I came across your website and found your great photographs. I'm wondering if you could send me the full resolution photographs you've take so I can use them to help texture my 3D model?
Hope you can help me out. Fill free to email me anytime.
Thanks,
Kurtis Hough
www.khstudios.com
< Taryn Driver > at 2006-09-26 21:29:08 EST
one day my family and I were playing football outside when we noticed this strange creature because I almost stepped on it.We put it in a jar and looked it up on the internet. Thanks to your help we found out what it was.
< Jan Hend > at 2006-09-21 21:37:31 EST
We found this "lovely" creature in the front yard - under the oak tree. Scary horns! Lovely green color. Thank you for all your information. Western Pennsylvania, Cranberry Township - 16066
< jeri boyd > at 2006-09-21 15:59:43 EST
Last weekend, Sept 17 06, we were at Rock Bridge Trout Ranch in Southern MO. Wewere leaving and a Hickort Horned Devel fell from a sycamore tree and landed with a thud on the windsheild of out truck. I ahd never seen or heard of this creature. We stopped and showed it to the guys behind us as we were all facinated at this "thing". My husband rescued it and put it on a near by tree. Thanks for the photos and the information...I will pass it on.
< farm vet > at 2006-09-19 15:58:22 EST
We found our first hickory horned devil today on a lovely stroll around the campus of New Bolton Center of U Penn vet school in Kennett Square, PA. We were delighted to encounter such a spectular beast!!!! We were tempted to pick it up and keep it for a while, however we were frightened by its horns!!!!
< Deborah Ford > at 2006-09-15 00:41:27 EST
We found one of the Hickory Horned Devils while camping in Ohio. We have never seen one before. We took it to the camp office and they told us it was either a lunar moth or a mammoth moth. Thanks to your website we now know what it was. I guess we need to go back and let them know what it was. Thanks again
< Graff Tom > at 2006-09-12 11:17:44 EST
My children found one of these while hiking in Western PA on 9/10/06. I've never seen anything like this!! Amazing! My daughter kept it alive in a box with grass and twigs and took it to school to show the class. She then released it back where she found it. Thanks for the great info.
[ Comment on This ]
Comments
< Amy Sorensen > at 2007-09-29 14:39:22 EST 
My kids and I had gone to the backyard to play in Kingwood, TX and we found this huge catapillar in the grass. There was alot of excitment. I had no idea what kind of catapillar it was. Simple amazing to see a Hickory Horned Devil. Wow!
< Kim Entzminger > at 2007-09-24 18:14:09 EST
My two year old spotted this caterpillar in our backyard. He was understandably a little scared of it. We're in Western, SC. It's the first time I've ever seen one.
< Cody Spivey > at 2007-09-24 12:00:47 EST 
We found one traveling across our golf course fairway here in Magnolia,Tx, just north of houston.It will definitely catch your eye.
< CRAIG EDMUNDS > at 2007-09-23 21:41:47 EST
MY FAMILY AND I FOUND A HHD THAT FELL FROM AN OAK TREE TODAY IN SEWICKLEY, PA. IT WAS THE FIRST EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CREATURE. IT WAS QUITE FASCINATING TO OBSERVE. I AM NOW A FAN OF THE HHD.
< Ryan Smith > at 2007-09-19 09:36:36 EST
My kids found a hickory horned devil in our front yard last year. I have videos of it at:http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=17601581
We live in Hammond, Louisiana.
My Kym and Mark found it to be very interesting and a couple times a month we go "Hickory Horn Hunting" to no avail. Hope someone finds this useful.
< Ida Faye Gibson > at 2007-09-16 21:40:36 EST
My grand children found a HHD at Lake Milwood in Howard County Arkansas. They are in ahh at it and I am too as it said they come from the Eastern United States.< Haley Gilbert > at 2007-09-13 19:54:16 EST
Early today, students at Seton Hill found a Hickory Horned Devil crawling along on the grounds! It was a really cool sight and attracted a lot of people!Thanks for the info, it was really useful and neat to find out what the strange critter was.
< Miranda Zimmerman > at 2007-09-10 17:38:56 EST
Today I was bathing my two dogs in Pittsburgh PA, and after we I was done I had to tie my dogs up to let them dry so I had chosen to tie the one up by the walnut tree and as a reached down to tie the rope around the tree there was the Hicory Horned Devil Catipiller it was amazing I have it in a bug box and I will be taking it to my school tommorow.
< elise dauber > at 2007-08-30 23:52:30 EST
My friend Joe was walking through campus today and called me and said, 'hey you gotta come check out this caterpillar its huge.' not knowing what to expect I came out and saw one of these horned moth caterpillars and was shocked. it was the most amazing insect i have ever seen, and i will never forget that. we rushed to show our professor and he was estatic. oh the joys that mother nature brings!! i love it!
< Kate Barretta > at 2007-08-28 16:04:39 EST
Hi, We found this amazing creature today in our front yard, everyone we question was sure it was a new species of some kind. So the kids and their friends took it to the local vet and they found out exactly what it was, the funny thing is they actually had already named it horn devil, they came pretty close.
< Renee L > at 2007-08-22 19:23:45 EST
My friend and I were driving down Old River Road in Duncan Falls Ohio, when I seen the big huge bug going across on the other side of the road. I turned around and picked it up for my daughters show and tell at school. We did a big green caterpillar search online to find out what it was, and to our surprise is was a Hickory Horned Devil. What an awesome experience it has been for our family, and for the class of second graders that will view this awesome creation of Gods handy work. I will return it to the woods where I found it, after show and tell.
< Danielle Mangum > at 2007-08-12 15:34:11 EST
We Were walking the dogs at the dog park when we found this huge blue caterpillar. I was scared of it at first but my mom said just watch it and don't touch it because it had large spines that could be stingers. We watched it for a long time as it made its way accross the park. We could not wait to get home and try to find out what kind of moth or what kind of caterpillar it was. It was the Hicory Horned Devil we found out.
< Lynn Sherman > at 2007-08-03 21:49:51 EST
8/3/07 I live in Coinjock, North Carolina. While in the next town over getting gas my daughter spotted a Regal Moth. We had never seen one before and did not know what it was. My daughter, who is an advid photographer, pulled out her camera and took a picture. I was able to learn about the Hickory Horned Devil and that it turns into a Regal Moth. A special experience for me and my daughter.
< Kurtis Hough > at 2006-10-02 21:47:03 EST
Hello. I'm a computer animator working on a new animated short film about the Hickory Horned Devil/Regal Moth. In researching them I came across your website and found your great photographs. I'm wondering if you could send me the full resolution photographs you've take so I can use them to help texture my 3D model?Hope you can help me out. Fill free to email me anytime.
Thanks,
Kurtis Hough
www.khstudios.com
< Taryn Driver > at 2006-09-26 21:29:08 EST
one day my family and I were playing football outside when we noticed this strange creature because I almost stepped on it.We put it in a jar and looked it up on the internet. Thanks to your help we found out what it was.
< Jan Hend > at 2006-09-21 21:37:31 EST
We found this "lovely" creature in the front yard - under the oak tree. Scary horns! Lovely green color. Thank you for all your information. Western Pennsylvania, Cranberry Township - 16066
< jeri boyd > at 2006-09-21 15:59:43 EST
Last weekend, Sept 17 06, we were at Rock Bridge Trout Ranch in Southern MO. Wewere leaving and a Hickort Horned Devel fell from a sycamore tree and landed with a thud on the windsheild of out truck. I ahd never seen or heard of this creature. We stopped and showed it to the guys behind us as we were all facinated at this "thing". My husband rescued it and put it on a near by tree. Thanks for the photos and the information...I will pass it on.
< farm vet > at 2006-09-19 15:58:22 EST
We found our first hickory horned devil today on a lovely stroll around the campus of New Bolton Center of U Penn vet school in Kennett Square, PA. We were delighted to encounter such a spectular beast!!!! We were tempted to pick it up and keep it for a while, however we were frightened by its horns!!!! < Deborah Ford > at 2006-09-15 00:41:27 EST
We found one of the Hickory Horned Devils while camping in Ohio. We have never seen one before. We took it to the camp office and they told us it was either a lunar moth or a mammoth moth. Thanks to your website we now know what it was. I guess we need to go back and let them know what it was. Thanks again
< Graff Tom > at 2006-09-12 11:17:44 EST
My children found one of these while hiking in Western PA on 9/10/06. I've never seen anything like this!! Amazing! My daughter kept it alive in a box with grass and twigs and took it to school to show the class. She then released it back where she found it. Thanks for the great info.
Rear end of the hickory horned devil, the caterpillar of the regal moth.
Underside of the hickory horned devil. Notice the wasp eggs near the bottom.
Closeup of the face of a hickory horned devil caterpillar which will turn into a regal moth.
The hickory horned devil crawling through grass, caterpillar of the Regal Moth.
The hickory horned devil, caterpillar of the Regal Moth.
