: Larvae are about 25 mm long and vary in color from light green to dark brownish-green. A distinguishing feature is that fall cankerworms have three pairs of prolegs on the rear half of their abdomen, whereas the similar spring cankerworm has only two.
: As "inchworms," the larvae lack several pairs of central prolegs. They move by drawing their hind end up to their front legs, forming a high arch (or "loop") before reaching forward again. alsophila pometaria
: Because females cannot fly, the species spreads through "ballooning," where young larvae produce a silk strand and are carried by the wind to neighboring trees. Annual Life Cycle Fall Cankerworm | Forest Insect & Disease Leaflet 182 : Larvae are about 25 mm long and
The ( Alsophila pometaria ) is a native North American moth best known for its "inchworm" larvae that can cause significant defoliation of broadleaf trees. Despite their name, they are primarily a spring-feeding pest, though adults emerge in the late autumn to breed. Key Biological Features They move by drawing their hind end up