Hank sent me here from his vlog about the Hickory Horned Devil. I'm impressed with the problem solving done so footage could be captured, and I subscribed so I look forward to seeing what other fascinating content comes next!
Thanks to you and Hank Green, I finally know what it was I saw almost 50 years ago! An enormous caterpillar I have thought about almost every day since: Thanks!
What were you feeding him in this video? When I was a small child in the 1960s I found one in our suburban yard in Manassas, Virginia, not near any woods. I was not frightened at all and wanted to keep it to see it morph into whatever it would become. My entire family was entranced and in awe...he was a giant! The problem was that I could not figure out what it wanted to eat. I put every kind of leaf and branch from our yard which I could find to entice it into eating, but it wouldn't eat. After 2 days I was afraid it would starve so I let it go to find a meal. An hour later my dad came home from work and told me he had found out it was a Hickory Horned Devil and they liked to eat sassafras leaves. Hmmm. Not sure if they do. I suspect he had been eating the lilac or our neighbor's sycamore leaves which I had not tempted him with. Alas, I never saw him again!
Gigi Gewgaw - I would also like to know. Based on what little I could see of the leaves my guess was either Sycamore or Sweet gum. I've also seen other UA-camrs feeding them walnut leaves. And its entirely possibly that the Caterpillar is named the Hickory Horned Devil because its often found eating Hickory leaves?
If the caterpillar was found on the ground there is a good chance that it was looking for a spot to dig and form a cocoon like a Luna moth, Sphinx moth and hawk moth
Here from Hank Green's latest video and can I just say that those caterpillars are extremely satisfying to watch eat. Something about just how methodical they are is just relaxing.
There was one of those HUGE hickory horned devils! At my sleep away summer camp, it was on a tree and every day we looked at it. This was very interesting to watch and learn more about the caterpillar!
I’ve never seen any animal people talk about these guys!! They’re the biggest caterpillars in North America and the coolest looking. Lucky enough to see a live one when I was about 10. But thanks for this vid!
John, you know I was on the edge of my chair waiting to hear the pupating of this creature, smiling, learned so much. Raising monarchs & swallowtails here in Palm City, FL.
I'm 65 years old and live in upper east Tennessee. Never in my life have I ever seen one of these until yesterday. I had went to my 86 year old moms for a visit. We were in her back yard looking at her flowers when she noticed something had been eating her lilac bush leaves. She started looking and said what in the world. Biggest Caterpillar I've ever seen. In a way it was creepy looking and in a way in was amazing. Its huge eyes and big horns. It was longer than my finger and just amazing. I looked it up on google to see what it was my mom wanted me to kill it but no way. I put on gloves, put it in a jar and took it to a wooded area and let it go. Enjoyed seeing this so much. I have some wonderful pictures.
Great video! I've encountered the moth twice while night hiking in upstate SC - both times in August, I think. Absolutely massive. I'm not a huge fan of things of massive insects flying towards me (it was attracted to my flashlight, of course) but next time I see one I'll try to get over my skittishness and look at it up close.
It is a Regal Moth. Here is a link to some pictures: www.google.com/search?q=citheronia+regalis&rlz=1C1PRFI_enUS722US728&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjlsKOh5sThAhWanoMKHTJ9A_UQ_AUIDigB&biw=1680&bih=939
They are rarer here in pennsylvania and are fond of hickory as per the name, yours are feeding on sweet gum a tree that is in Pennsylvania but not as common as in the delaware and maryland areas where the moths are more common. I hunt them using large white plastic sheets under food trees usually in late july early august, that is when their (POOP) is the biggest and gives them away, even when you find the evidence looking up in a large hickory tree is a daunting task to find them. They burrow in the ground and the lighter ground freezing down south gives lower mortality rates to the pupae. Moths are not as large as you would think comming from such a giant catterpillar.
A week ago my husband brought one in the house for me to see. At first I was a bit scared of it, so big. After looking it up, I saw it was harmless, and special. Put it back on the tree. I have a pretty big monarch butterfly garden, and lots of species visit for pollen. This guy was on a Sumac tree. I subbed to your channel, liked your content.
Oh!! I LOVE this!! I especially love watching the big guy eat in fast motion! Trey keeps telling me I need to come out and see you and I am CONVINCED that he is correct! I told him that he needs to go with me and sing the Water Buffalo song, though! ;-) I hope to see you soon - one of these days, but not when it's TOO, TOO hot!
Hey Butterfly Farmer. I'm 64 years old and I've lived my entire life in southeast Mississippi. I saw these hickory horned devils in abundance when I was a kid but now I never see any. Are they becoming more scarce?
Best part is these caterpillars who eat plant leaves help plant spread its seeds when they become butterfly. Humans should learn how even the smallest insect give back what they taken from nature.
Great video! The only thing missing - and this is a minor matter - would be to see a picture of them as an adult (i.e. a moth). It's so fascinating how different they are as caterpillars and moths, and no resemblance.
I found the first one of the year yesterday. Great info about the feeding pattern... I will look for this on the sweetgum trees in my area and hopefully find more.
What an amazing creature! Dnt no the name(scientific + generic) but in Manipur india, we have this giant caterpillars as big as a toe and 4-5 inch long blueish color and have white powdery substance covering it partially, lives on guava trees. It has same horn formation but white, not as long as this though
@@thebutterflyfarmer1509 I placed the ova in a rearing pan into which I arranged fresh leaves as soon as the eggs hatched. I changed the leaves every day. I moved the larvae to live branches when they entered second instar. They would not do well on cut food after first instar. They never got quite as big as larvae feeding on Hickory, but Hickory is now nearly extinct in W. Massachusetts due to diseases and overharvesting.
Are their eating habits purely due to convenience or could it be because they’re so heavy they might break the leaf petiole if they climbed out on it and end up falling away from their food source?
Love the video! If you don’t mind me asking, what steps did you take to become a lepidopterist/zoologist? I’m a senior in high school and I’m very interested in the field!
There are not a lot of formal educational routs in this field. I would recommend trying to find a butterfly farm you could intern with for a few months. Nothing can replace first hand working with the bugs!!!
Southern NA, Around and slightly north of Texas. They're rarely found south of the Mexican border or north of Nebraska. I wish I could get one but I live in Canada. :(
Came here after watching Hank Green's video. This all is so interesting!!
Me too.
Jairus Kersey yep.
I'm glad you came over! Hank is a great guy!!
Hank Green sent me here, this is channel is fantastic!. One thing though - that was not nearly enough footage of them eating! I need more!
I am glad you came over! I am going to work on more footage:-)
Hank brought me here! Never thought I would be terrified of a caterpillar lol
Hank sent me here from his vlog about the Hickory Horned Devil. I'm impressed with the problem solving done so footage could be captured, and I subscribed so I look forward to seeing what other fascinating content comes next!
Thank you! I hope to have more coming soon.
I could've sat watching that caterpillar for hours eating in time lapse!
The energy this guy exudes while talking about insects is awesome 😄
Thank, I am glad it shows!!!
Thanks to you and Hank Green, I finally know what it was I saw almost 50 years ago! An enormous caterpillar I have thought about almost every day since: Thanks!
That's a neat story!
Yes! Butterflies and Moths!! My favourite two insects!!
What were you feeding him in this video? When I was a small child in the 1960s I found one in our suburban yard in Manassas, Virginia, not near any woods. I was not frightened at all and wanted to keep it to see it morph into whatever it would become. My entire family was entranced and in awe...he was a giant! The problem was that I could not figure out what it wanted to eat. I put every kind of leaf and branch from our yard which I could find to entice it into eating, but it wouldn't eat. After 2 days I was afraid it would starve so I let it go to find a meal. An hour later my dad came home from work and told me he had found out it was a Hickory Horned Devil and they liked to eat sassafras leaves. Hmmm. Not sure if they do. I suspect he had been eating the lilac or our neighbor's sycamore leaves which I had not tempted him with. Alas, I never saw him again!
Gigi Gewgaw - I would also like to know. Based on what little I could see of the leaves my guess was either Sycamore or Sweet gum. I've also seen other UA-camrs feeding them walnut leaves. And its entirely possibly that the Caterpillar is named the Hickory Horned Devil because its often found eating Hickory leaves?
@@__-pl3jg you are correct, I raised these guys on Sweetgum. Walnut is another favorite.
If the caterpillar was found on the ground there is a good chance that it was looking for a spot to dig and form a cocoon like a Luna moth, Sphinx moth and hawk moth
Are you enjoying the Vlogbrother's bump.😎 Why only 6 videos? You make great content. I'd like to see more.
Thanks! I am working on more for this summer.
You should do a luna moth video
Thanks, Hank. And of course, John, the butterfly farmer.
You are more an welcome. Thanks for watching!!
Caterpillars are so cute!! I would totally hold this little guy!
Yes. With this, my collection of insect based YT channels grows. Also this is amazing!
Thanks!
Here from Hank Green's latest video and can I just say that those caterpillars are extremely satisfying to watch eat. Something about just how methodical they are is just relaxing.
These Caterpillars are so COOL!!!!
Came here from vlogbrothers. Instant subscribe.
Thanks!
That's too cool, wow!
Amazing & magical!
My name is Fred brown I live in Webster FL. My grandchildren font one in our yard.
There was one of those HUGE hickory horned devils! At my sleep away summer camp, it was on a tree and every day we looked at it. This was very interesting to watch and learn more about the caterpillar!
what an absolute unit
Love from nerdfighteria!! Thanks for the video!! DFTBA!
I’ve never seen any animal people talk about these guys!! They’re the biggest caterpillars in North America and the coolest looking. Lucky enough to see a live one when I was about 10. But thanks for this vid!
You are lucky! Not many people get to see one up close.
John, you know I was on the edge of my chair waiting to hear the pupating of this creature, smiling, learned so much. Raising monarchs & swallowtails here in Palm City, FL.
Hank brainwash me to like moths!
I am glad he did!
THESE ARE SO CUTE!!!
I'm 65 years old and live in upper east Tennessee. Never in my life have I ever seen one of these until yesterday. I had went to my 86 year old moms for a visit. We were in her back yard looking at her flowers when she noticed something had been eating her lilac bush leaves. She started looking and said what in the world. Biggest Caterpillar I've ever seen. In a way it was creepy looking and in a way in was amazing. Its huge eyes and big horns. It was longer than my finger and just amazing. I looked it up on google to see what it was my mom wanted me to kill it but no way. I put on gloves, put it in a jar and took it to a wooded area and let it go. Enjoyed seeing this so much. I have some wonderful pictures.
Great video! I've encountered the moth twice while night hiking in upstate SC - both times in August, I think. Absolutely massive.
I'm not a huge fan of things of massive insects flying towards me (it was attracted to my flashlight, of course) but next time I see one I'll try to get over my skittishness and look at it up close.
You should definitely give them a chance!! The adult moths are also completely harmless;-)
Awesome
Here from Smarter every day. I love Hickory Horned Devils! Found one in my yard years ago. More videos please!!! :)
Thank you! I am glad you made it over, and I hope to get a new back of videos out soon.
Hank Green's vid brought me here too. Your video is amazing!
Thank you!
Look at the absolute size of those lads! They’re absolute units!
Why doesn't this guy have more views and subs
uteki that’s what I’m confused about
hank green just promoted him on the vlogbrothers channel, so he's about to blow up
Came here after finding one in the wild today he was HUGE!!! This is so so cool
Dislikes? Really?
Hank Green sent me here too.. 😝😝
Awesome video sir, thanks
You are more than welcome. Thanks for watching!!
Those caterpillars are huge. I'm intrigued.
Why didn't you show the adult stage ?
Is it Moth or a Butterfly ?
It’s a Regal Moth.
It is a Regal Moth. Here is a link to some pictures: www.google.com/search?q=citheronia+regalis&rlz=1C1PRFI_enUS722US728&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjlsKOh5sThAhWanoMKHTJ9A_UQ_AUIDigB&biw=1680&bih=939
Amazing🐛thanks🦋
Thanks!
awesome huge and beautiful!
Great video!
I FOUND ONE!!!! I have it NOW!!!! It’s SOO beautiful!!!
Wow that's really neat thank you
I am glad you enjoyed it!
I prefer dis caterpillar than the other with hair.
I used to find them all the time in NJ. They’re fascinating
Beautiful and interesting. But my brain is yelling at me "Don't freaking touch it!"
And that is exactly why they look that way!
Yeah, I suppose this channels might be my new hyperfixation
I've only seen one of these. It was very impressive to say the least.
That they are!
thats cool, I have found a few
Just came from vlog brothers video
I am glad you made it!
Since it took so much force to try and pull the caterpillar off the branch, does it feel weird when the caterpillar walks on your finger?
They have trouble getting a good grip on your finger, but yes, it's still a very interesting feeling.
They are rarer here in pennsylvania and are fond of hickory as per the name, yours are feeding on sweet gum a tree that is in Pennsylvania but not as common as in the delaware and maryland areas where the moths are more common. I hunt them using large white plastic sheets under food trees usually in late july early august, that is when their (POOP) is the biggest and gives them away, even when you find the evidence looking up in a large hickory tree is a daunting task to find them. They burrow in the ground and the lighter ground freezing down south gives lower mortality rates to the pupae. Moths are not as large as you would think comming from such a giant catterpillar.
Using a white sheet is a neat idea!
That's cool! That's how I find caterpillars a lot of times too.
Subcriber from vlogbrothers!
Thanks!
Here from SmarterEveryDay. Good luck man!
Thanks! Glad you made it over!!
700 muscles in this bug. So someone dissected this critter and counted muscles? yikes.
A week ago my husband brought one in the house for me to see. At first I was a bit scared of it, so big. After looking it up, I saw it was harmless, and special. Put it back on the tree. I have a pretty big monarch butterfly garden, and lots of species visit for pollen. This guy was on a Sumac tree. I subbed to your channel, liked your content.
I just seen one of these
That's one hungry hungry caterpillar
Turning radiation into beauty. What a wonderful world!
Oh!! I LOVE this!! I especially love watching the big guy eat in fast motion! Trey keeps telling me I need to come out and see you and I am CONVINCED that he is correct! I told him that he needs to go with me and sing the Water Buffalo song, though! ;-) I hope to see you soon - one of these days, but not when it's TOO, TOO hot!
my 8 year old wants to know how they can eat so much & not gain a bunch of weight. love the videos!
They actually are gaining weight like crazy for their size. It just doesn't show as fast when you are that small:-) I'm glad you liked the video!
Hey Butterfly Farmer. I'm 64 years old and I've lived my entire life in southeast Mississippi. I saw these hickory horned devils in abundance when I was a kid but now I never see any. Are they becoming more scarce?
Best part is these caterpillars who eat plant leaves help plant spread its seeds when they become butterfly.
Humans should learn how even the smallest insect give back what they taken from nature.
They are gorgeous. 😍 No idea if we have them in Australia but there huge catterpillars
He said it's harmless so it's not in Australia 😂😂😂
Unfortunately they don't live in Australia. They are pretty cool though!
Where is the most likely place to find these? Very fascinating just subscribed.
Thanks for subscribing! Southeast USA in mid summer, but they are very hard to find in the wild. Almost impossible to be honest.
Great video! The only thing missing - and this is a minor matter - would be to see a picture of them as an adult (i.e. a moth). It's so fascinating how different they are as caterpillars and moths, and no resemblance.
That would have been a nice addition. I will remember that for future videos!
Yup. Subbed.
Thanks!
Came here after watchng Hank Green;s video too. Curious to see the moth they turn it to and are they the same size?
Very cool👏
Thanks!
I always play outside and find butterfly and i catch it also caterpillars
I found the first one of the year yesterday. Great info about the feeding pattern... I will look for this on the sweetgum trees in my area and hopefully find more.
Good luck! I have found that Sweetgum and Black Walnut seem to be their favorite host plants.
I saw one today in Montgomery Tx!
Nature is interesting.
Very cool video! Thanks for sharing.
Unique channel man. You got a sub!
Thank you!!
Hank Green doing the work of a Divine Science, he brought me here. Insta-Subbed you my friend.
Thank for coming over. Hank is great guy!
Thank you so very much for sharing that. Was wondering where they live and what they look like as a moth. Was a pleasure and I am now a subscriber
You are more than welcome. They are native to the eastern U.S..
What an amazing creature!
Dnt no the name(scientific + generic) but in Manipur india, we have this giant caterpillars as big as a toe and 4-5 inch long blueish color and have white powdery substance covering it partially, lives on guava trees. It has same horn formation but white, not as long as this though
That is interesting. I would love to see a picture if you have one?
Thank you so much for this. I was looking for something exactly like this. Very informative and I loved the shots of them eating the leaves
We found one 25 years ago in southern Indiana. It ate a lot!
That reminds me of Attacus atlas Moth caterpillar. Big, green, and kind of scary.
They are in the same family. Although the HHD is actually a bit bigger. Both are very cool cats!!
@@thebutterflyfarmer1509 I hope I can see the adult moth of Citheronia regalis in the next video.
Hickory Horned Devils will also feed on Black Oak if they are introduced to this food plant immediately upon hatching.
I have never tried Black Oak. How do they do on it?
@@thebutterflyfarmer1509 I placed the ova in a rearing pan into which I arranged fresh leaves as soon as the eggs hatched. I changed the leaves every day. I moved the larvae to live branches when they entered second instar. They would not do well on cut food after first instar. They never got quite as big as larvae feeding on Hickory, but Hickory is now nearly extinct in W. Massachusetts due to diseases and overharvesting.
I actually saw one when I was at band camp in 2016
This 1 time at band camp...
Great channel dude. Next David Attenborough.
Thank you!! That's a great complement.
2:48 that cactus worm look deadly
I'm an entomologist. It is wrong to state that they do not have exoskeleton. Every single arthropod do have exoskeleton, with various thickness tho
IEEEEE!!!
I want one for a pet.
Will it evolve into a butterfree!!!!
A moth to be precise.
I’ve seen one of these once in North Carolina like 10 years ago and haven’t seen one since
You are lucky! Not many people get to see one up close.
Giant meat bags. Do they have any predators that regularly eat them or are their outrageous looks enough to deter most?
The outrageous look does help, but there are definitely still some predators especially for the younger cats.
Are their eating habits purely due to convenience or could it be because they’re so heavy they might break the leaf petiole if they climbed out on it and end up falling away from their food source?
That is a very good observation, and I believe you are correct.
If I ever get lost in the wild, can I eat a horned devil?They look like a easy source of protein.
Yes, but I am pretty sure there are easier meals. These guys are hard to find:-)
The one rule I keep "if it can eat,it can bite"
Meanwhile people finding these in their backyard
are they edible ?
Wtf?! Lmao
I believe they are, but they are way too cool to eat;-)
I want one.
Love the video! If you don’t mind me asking, what steps did you take to become a lepidopterist/zoologist? I’m a senior in high school and I’m very interested in the field!
There are not a lot of formal educational routs in this field. I would recommend trying to find a butterfly farm you could intern with for a few months. Nothing can replace first hand working with the bugs!!!
Where did you find that gem at?!?!
I always wanted to raise a few ;(
Last 2 years, I've only manage to find monarchs and swallow Tails.
Southern NA, Around and slightly north of Texas. They're rarely found south of the Mexican border or north of Nebraska. I wish I could get one but I live in Canada. :(
I would pay someone about $50 to mail me a couple though.
natures lil leaf eraser tool.