Snow Caterpillar

While out for a hike with the dogs Jill spied this critter crawling across the snow-covered trail.

 

click on the image for a better look

 

A caterpillar making its way across the snow. 

 

According to the interweb this is Noctua pronuba.  Sometimes called winter or snow cutworms. They are closely related to other cutworm species found in agricultural fields, feeding at the base of plants and sometimes moving up onto foliage. In large numbers, caterpillars move across fields and roads, similar to armyworm. However, unlike other caterpillar species winter cutworm is very cold tolerant, emerging even in the winter to feed. Thus if a large cutworm-like caterpillar is found late in the fall or during the winter, it is likely Noctua pronuba. 

 

The adult of this species is known as the yellow underwing. It is native to Europe, where it is one of the most common Noctuid moths. In 1979, this species was found in Nova Scotia. Adults are strong fliers, thus it spread rapidly across the northern U.S. Moths are night-active, found commonly around lights in the later summer and fall.