The Unicorn Caterpillar can be seen feeding on apples or cherries and other non-fruit producing plants. As you can see, their skin is made to hide them from predators while they are seated near leaves. If they feel threatened, they hold up their front and hind ends to attack the predator with glands that produce harmful acids.

Caterpillars like these are born on the underside of a leaf. Eggs are often laid 300 at a time. From the time they hatch to the time they are ready to shed their exoskeleton, they spend most of their time feeding in groups. For this, they move to the trunk of the tree and into the soil. During the winter, the pupae survive by burying themselves this way. Once the pupae become adults, the females climb the tree again to lay eggs and allow the cycle to start over again.