The Turbulent Phosphila last instar caterpillar is marked with black and white pinstriping dorsally. The subspiracular area is pale orange to yellow with white striping. Both ends are swollen and black with large white spots. The back end is larger and more boldly marked than the head. It grows to less then l 3/8 inches. The early instar is pale green with a shiny, black head. The adult moth is about .75 inch long. The mottled brown forewing has a darker median area with a black bar in the inner half. The double antemedial and postmedial ines are filled with pale orange.
The frequency of occurrence of this uncommon species in our area is unknown. The caterpillars were photographed in Fontenelle Forest in early September 2016. It occurs in eastern North America from Massachusetts south to Florida and west to Texas and eastern Nebraska and Iowa.
The larvae feed on Smilax species (Greenbriar). The caterpillars are usually seen feeding in large aggregations, but older instars may feed solitarily. The species winters in the pupal stage.
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