This sluglike caterpillar grows to a length of 1 5/8 inches. It is bright green with rows of yellow, white and dark green lengthwise stripes. The dark green middorsal stripe is usually continuous. The head and antlers are green. The antlers on the head have spiklets that are more than half the length of the spikelets projecting from the branched spines of the “cheeks.” Two spines extend from the rear of the body. On the very similar Hackberry Emperor caterpillar the head spikelets are often half the length of the longest ones along the cheeks.
This caterpillar is more common in some years than others. It is found on Hackberry trees which are the larval host plants.
The larvae feed communally through the 3rd instar when they leave to feed individually. The larvae of the closely related Hackberry Emperor do not feed communually. The butterfly has a wingspan of 2 – 2 5/8 inches. It is a tawny orange- brown color dorsally with 2 dark vertical zigzags on the leading edge of the forewing and two rows of yellow spots across the wing. There is a row of dark circles across the hindwing. Ventrally, it is tan with brown and black markings with a row of dark eyespots on the hindwing.
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