Forest Tent Caterpillar

== Summary ==
Forest Tent Caterpillars are common, native caterpillars. They are blue and grey with small white key-hole like shapes on their backs. They are friendly little guys. They arrive in April when leaves erupt from their buds. They feed on the buds in April, but will then feed on leaves when they erupt. They are common caterpillars, most commonly found on many forest trees, as the name implies. They seem to prefer cherry trees the most. They are not like the Eastern Tent, that makes these silky "tents". Forest tent caterpillars do not construct these tents. They roam free, and do not live in the same place the the eastern tents. The caterpillars pupate in June. They will start by silking around them, and make a personal tent that their pupea will reside. The pupea is yellow and enclosed in the silk tent. They commonly pupate in leaves, on walls, or porches, etc. They will erupt as adults in July. 
These caterpillars are fairly common, and easy to raise. Feed them oak or cherry leaves, and they'll be happy. Theyre most commonly found in June when they leave the host tree in search of a safe place to pupate. May it be at your house on on a safe branch, or a porch or picnic table, they will start silking when the feel safe. You can easily bring them inside to pupate. I did that in 2017 I think it was. There was like 30 of these forest tent caterpillars climbing down our Red Oak tree in June. I got every caterpillar into the fish tank I used. The survival rate of captive pupae is usually around 80%, so most of them will come out as moths a few weeks later. In my story, all of them but two didnt make it. bout 4 weeks later, all of the pupated caterpilars erupted as moths. My fish tank was infested with the moths! I let them all go in the wild to mate and complete their purpose. 
== General ==
Easy to raise
Blue and grey with white key-hole like spots on back.
A little furry. 
Medium sized caterpillar. 
Usually one of the first caterpillars of the spring season. 
Pupates in June. Small yellow pupae in a silken tent. 
Ive raised several generations. Category:Nature
Category:Caterpillars