ID Butterfly larvae?

[Perocore]

So, my dad just found a massive caterpillar...it's about 4.5" long...I'm in Upstate NY, and it's currently high 70's up here. I have no idea what it'd eat, as we found it exploring on a slab of concrete. Here's some pictures of the cutie:

http://i.imgur.com/X3cac.png
http://i.imgur.com/pivPJ.png

I'd like to know what species it is, that way I can figure out what to feed it! I've never seen anything like it before...and I've lived here my whole life..! Neither of my parents have seen anything like it either...

Thanks,
Pero​

 

[Thistles]

Maybe an Imperial moth? Eacles imperialis? They have very variable larvae and live in your area.

 

[Perocore]

Hm...looks like it..! I'll collect some maple leaves for it I've seen quite a few adults hanging around, but this is the first caterpillar I've come across!

Thanks!

 

[Tenodera]

If it was wandering around on concrete, it might be looking for a place to pupate.

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

Maybe an Imperial moth? Eacles imperialis? They have very variable larvae and live in your area.

I've never seen an Eacles imperialis larvae that ever looked like that. Too many white projections on the top....E. imperialis has 4 of those projections near the head generally I believe

 

[Tarac]

I've never seen an Eacles imperialis larvae that ever looked like that. Too many white projections on the top....E. imperialis has 4 of those projections near the head generally I believe

Yes and no- I think this is subspecies pini, a northern subspecies. It eats pine. Weird, huh? Here is an image:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6188/6123806860_c50f181546_z.jpg

And a page from the great Saturniid moth king, Bill Oehlke:

http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/seimppin.htm

I'd love to rear that subspecies someday.

---------- Post added 08-10-2012 at 12:13 PM ----------

If it was wandering around on concrete, it might be looking for a place to pupate.

Yep, likely done for the year. Probably looking for a nice place to burrow into the ground for the winter.

 

[thedude]

Not sure exactly what it is, but i dont think its an imperal. Can you get a side view? If it is oak is your best bet.. Its the most widely used food plant for them. If its that pini subspecies, pitch pine is probably what they feed on

 

[Tarac]

Not sure exactly what it is, but i dont think its an imperal. Can you get a side view? If it is oak is your best bet.. Its the most widely used food plant for them. If its that pini subspecies, pitch pine is probably what they feed on

It is the subspecies pini, the extra tubercles give it away. Check the links I posted above your post. Oak won't help it at all. The other imperialis will take a variety of host plants, I feed mine Prunus serotina down here. Most of the larger native Saturniidae will take that if they are not picky feeders that prefer only one or two specific hosts like Citheronia sepulchralis for example. Eacles imperialis pini would be an example of one of the more picky feeders, it will only a few species pine- pretty much only white and red pine are acceptable hosts for this subspecies.

 

[thedude]

This is the first time i've seen one, but you dun educated me. I think I have some of the adults that i've collected from the pine barrens