What is the most reliable visual cue for identifying the spongy moth caterpillar?
Answer
Five pairs of blue dots followed by six pairs of reddish-orange dots
The defining characteristic distinguishing the caterpillar is the pattern of colored spots running along its back: five pairs of blue dots immediately followed by six pairs of reddish-orange or rusty red dots.
Related Questions
What is the recently adopted common name for *Lymantria dispar dispar*?How many generations per year does the spongy moth complete?When do spongy moth larvae typically emerge and begin active feeding?What describes the appearance of spongy moth egg masses?What is the primary mechanism for the long-distance colonization leaps of the established North American spongy moth?What is the most reliable visual cue for identifying the spongy moth caterpillar?Which statement accurately describes the adult female spongy moth in established North American populations?What specialized feature do male spongy moths use to locate females?Which group of trees is heavily favored by spongy moth caterpillars?What is the primary symptom of a spongy moth infestation during the spring and early summer feeding period?How does the adult female of the Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC) differ critically from the established North American female spongy moth?