What is "lackey caterpillar"

Lackey \Lack"ey\, n.; pl. Lackeys. [F. laquais; cf. Sp. & Pg. lacayo; of uncertain origin; perh. of German origin, and akin to E. lick, v.] An attending male servant; a footman; a servile follower.

Like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey.
--Shak.

Lackey caterpillar (Zo["o]l.), the caterpillar, or larva, of any bombycid moth of the genus Clisiocampa; -- so called from its party-colored markings. The common European species ( Clisiocampa neustria) is striped with blue, yellow, and red, with a white line on the back. The American species ( Clisiocampa Americana and Clisiocampa sylvatica) are commonly called tent caterpillars. See Tent caterpillar, under Tent.

Lackey moth (Zo["o]l.), the moth which produces the lackey caterpillar.