I spotted this Oak Leafroller caterpillar while walking the Sandtown Trail at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma on September 7. It was dangling from a thin silk thread, swaying in the breeze against a soft green backdrop.
These caterpillars are known for rolling and tying oak leaves with silk to make shelters, which is how they get their name. When disturbed, they often drop and hang suspended on a strand of silk. It’s a survival tactic that helps them avoid predators. Later, they’ll pupate and become small brown moths.
Oak Leafroller Caterpillar Wildlife Behavior
The Oak Leafroller (Archips semiferana) feeds primarily on oak trees, which are plentiful at Sequoyah NWR. They play a role in the forest ecosystem by providing food for birds and other predators. Their habit of dangling from silk makes them easy to spot this time of year.
Like the Oak Leafroller, Eastern Tent Caterpillars also use silk in fascinating ways, building large communal tents in trees each spring. Both species show how caterpillars rely on silk for survival and protection.
Caterpillar Photography Tips in the Field
This was a simple shot but also tricky. The caterpillar was constantly swaying, and the silk line was nearly invisible. I used my Canon EOS R5 Mark II with the RF 100–500mm lens. Shooting at 1/640 helped freeze the motion, and f/8 gave me just enough depth of field to keep the subject sharp while blurring the background. The high ISO of 4000 was necessary in the available light.
Photo Details
- Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
- Lens: Canon RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 L IS USM
- Aperture: ƒ/8
- Shutter Speed: 1/640
- ISO: 4000
Note: Oak Leafrollers are sometimes called inchworms because of their slow, repetitive, looping movement.