Bug FAQBarred Eggarlet
Bombycomorpha bifascia · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Lasiocampidae
Also called: Pepper-tree Caterpillar, Pepper-tree Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The larva is about 40 mm long, black with orange hairs that make it look yellowish, and bears two thin yellow lines on each side. It feeds in groups on the foliage of trees such as Searsia dentata and Schinus molle, sometimes becoming cannibalistic when food is scarce.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The caterpillar is black, covered in orange hairs that give it a yellowish hue, and has two narrow yellow stripes along each flank.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
It reaches a length of roughly 40 mm as a larva.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
The larvae live on the leaves of plants in the Anacardiaceae family, including the pepper tree.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They feed together on the foliage of Searsia dentata, Schinus molle and other related plants, and may turn cannibalistic when food runs out.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
After four molts they reach full size in about 50 to 60 days, then descend to the ground to look for a pupation site. Their cocoons are about 20 mm long, chocolate-brown and resemble dried mud.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
When weather is unfavorable they hibernate as larvae until the following spring.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to southern Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What does the barred eggarlet larva look like?
It is a black caterpillar about 40 mm long, covered with orange hairs that give it a yellowish tint and two thin yellow lines on each side.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the larvae eat?
They feed on the leaves of trees such as Searsia dentata and the pepper tree Schinus molle, as well as other Anacardiaceae species.
Source: Wikipedia
How long does it take for the larvae to become pupae?
They grow to full size in about 50 to 60 days after four molts, then drop to the ground to pupate.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Lasiocampidae)
Eastern Tent Caterpillar MothMalacosoma americanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Forest Tent Caterpillar MothMalacosoma disstriaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fox MothMacrothylacia rubi
Oak EggarLasiocampa quercus
Drinker MothEuthrix potatoria
Western Tent Caterpillar MothMalacosoma californicaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombycomorpha_bifascia
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.