Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth vs Zayante Band-winged Grasshopper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth Zayante Band-winged Grasshopper
Scientific Name Malacosoma americanum Trimerotropis infantilis
Order Lepidoptera Orthoptera
Family Lasiocampidae Acrididae
Size 25–38 mm wingspan 2-3 cm
Habitat Grasslands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Eastern North America United States
Conservation Not Evaluated Endangered

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth

A common moth whose caterpillars build conspicuous silk tents in the forks of cherry and apple trees. Colonies cooperate to build and expand their communal shelter.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars lay silk trail pheromones to guide nestmates to the best feeding sites on the tree.

Zayante Band-winged Grasshopper

A small grasshopper found only in sand parkland habitats in Santa Cruz County, California. It is superbly camouflaged against the grey Zayante sand.

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Did You Know?

Its entire world range covers less than 600 acres of sandy habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains.