NC State Extension Publications

Desription and Biology

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The skiff caterpillar, Prolimacodes badia, is an unusual caterpillar in the family of slug caterpillars that includes the saddleback, hag moth, and puss caterpillar. The skiff caterpillar is humped and has two ridges running fore and aft ending in a short but pronounced 'tail.' Each ridge has a small, pointed bump at the crest. The head is retracted into the thorax, and the legs are not visible so that the caterpillar vaguely resembles a small, overturned boat (skiff). Sometimes skiff caterpillars are gray, whereas others may be green or green with small to large brown blotches. Although some of the other slug caterpillars have clusters of spine-like, urticating hairs that cause a painful sting, the skiff caterpillar does not and therefore probably cannot sting. Each caterpillar spins a tough, brown, oval silk cocoon in which the insect overwinters. The following growing season, the skiff caterpillar moth emerges, mates and lays flat eggs either in small groups or singly. Skiff caterpillar moths are gray to beige with dark brown markings on the outer edge of the wings. The thorax has a noticeable tuft of setae. The moths are about an inch (or a little more) long with the wings folded at rest.

A skiff caterpillar

A skiff caterpillar showing gray coloration.

The underside of a skiff caterpillar.

The underside of a skiff caterpillar.

A typical skiff caterpillar.

A typical skiff caterpillar.

A dark green skiff caterpillar.

A dark green skiff caterpillar.

A skiff caterpillar moth with its wings folded.

A skiff caterpillar moth with its wings folded.

A skiff caterpillar moth with the wings spread.

A skiff caterpillar moth with the wings spread.

Host Plants

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Skiff caterpillars feed on American hophornbeam, beech, black cherry, bog-myrtle, maple, oak, sycamore, and other trees and shrubs.

Residential Recommendations

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This family of caterpillars is often parasitized by tiny brachonid wasps that, along with bacterial and viral diseases, usually keep the population sparse. No control recommendation seems necessary as the skiff caterpillar is hardly ever abundant. It is more of a curiosity than a true plant pest. In case of an outbreak of skiff caterpillars, Sevin or some other insecticide labeled for landscape use should give more than adequate control.

References

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For assistance with a specific problem, contact your local Cooperative Extension Center.

This Factsheet has not been peer reviewed.

Author

Professor Emeritus
Entomology

Find more information at the following NC State Extension websites:

Publication date: April 12, 2016
Revised: Oct. 14, 2019

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