Mary Parker Sonis, a naturalist, photographer and writer, illustrates her enthrallment with the largest endemic American caterpillar, the Hickory Horned Devil. These large caterpillars, with their distinct lime and cerulean coloring, are part of our state's complex ecosystem. Once they go through metamorphosis and transform into large, powerful moths, they then lay eggs on hickory, walnut, sweet gum or most commonly the persimmon trees. The Devil caterpillar makes its home typically near well developed persimmon trees or wandering along the forest floor, where it escapes from predators using a very well evolved defense system. The Horned Devil parades a display of sinister vibrant black and orange cautionary spikes all along its body. While