Hackberry Caterpillars

Host Trees

• Hackberry caterpillars are found in hackberry trees, which are large, deciduous members of the elm family. Hackberry trees have gray bark with a wartlike appearance and drooping branches. Their dark green leaves with light green undersides grow to approximately 3 to 5 inches in length and have sharp teeth. Small yellow or green flowers appear in early spring and green fruit that grows red or black once they reach maturity in fall.

Caterpillar Identification

• Hackberry caterpillars exclusively eat the hackberry tree and sugarberry tree and can be found there, especially on the undersides of foliage. Young caterpillars are most likely to damage hackberry trees. Typically light green with two horns and yellow spots and stripes, they can be found feeding on young hackberry leaves in groups during the growing season. Before winter, caterpillars turn brown and are found inside of dead leaves in groups. Eggs are pale yellow and appear in clusters on hackberry leaves.

Butterfly Identification

• Adult butterflies can grow to over two inches long with black, white-spotted forewings containing large, black oval-shaped eyespot. They also have yellowish brown hindwings, also with black eyespots above purple-brown and cream-colored stripes and patches. Adults are often seen on leaves, flowers, the ground or feeding from rotten fruit, dead animals, dung or tree wounds.

Geography

• Hackberry butterflies and caterpillars live throughout the U.S., especially in the eastern part of the country, central Plains area and in the southwest into northern Mexico. Also found in southern Canada, they are seen near sources of water and in forests and towns. Hackberry caterpillars and butterflies are absent in New York, New England, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Consequences and Management

• Hackberry caterpillars feast on the leaves and new growth of hackberry and sugarberry trees, which can cause holes in leaves. Although the loss of leaves on trees can be a problem, it is rare that hackberry caterpillars cause serious damage to trees and they pose no harm to humans. If you have one of these tree types, inspect the leaves of host trees as well as the ground where hackberry caterpillars may be feeding on fruit or manure. Management strategies are typically not required, but planting trees other than hackberry and sugarberry will prevent these caterpillars from feeding on leaves.