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Black
Swallowtail Caterpillar and Chrysalis
(03/23/2006) images of swallotail caterpillars on parsley
Dear Bugman,
just wanted to share a few more images, hope you don't mind.
all these are from last summer (2005). The swallotail caterpillars
ravaged my curley parsley. (at one point i counted over 40
caterpillars of various sizes on this one little plant!!)
after they were "full" some of them made cacoons
on my purple fountain grass. anyway, hope you like the images!!
thanks for letting me share!
karen hackney
wilmington, NC
 
Hi Karen,
Thank you so much for providing our readers with wonderful
photos of the Black Swallowtail Caterpillar and Chrysalis.
Heterocampa Caterpillar
(03/22/2006) Our new friend...
Hi,
Our neighbor found this caterpillar in her backyard. I asked
her if we could have it. We want to raise it for our homeschool.
We just need to know what type of caterpillar he is and what
he eats. I am sure that he is a fairly common type, I just
don't know what it is. We put fresh leaves in from our live
oak tree for now. I also sent a picture of him to our local
Museum of Science and Industry. They have a butterfly garden
there and we have released Painted Ladies which we raised
in there. She suggested your site. Thank you for any help
you can give us.
Dee
Hi Dee,
Your caterpillar is in the genus Heterocampa, many of which
feed on oaks. Our best guesses are the Saddled Prominent,
Heterocampa guttivitta which also feeds on maple, beech and
apple, or Heterocampa obliqua, but the species are often variable
and difficult to distinguish from one another. It will metamorphose
into a nondescript brown prominent moth.
Oleander Hawk Moth Caterpillar
(03/21/2006) oleander hawkmoth (sphinx)?
Dear Bugman,
Thanks for a great website! I found your site while trying
to identify a caterpillar that we found on the gardenia bush
in our garden in Khartoum, Sudan. I didn't find the same caterpillar
on your site, but found enough lookalikes to be sure that
it was a hawkmoth / sphinx caterpillar (I'd thought it was
a butterfly caterpillar) and so was able to find it by searching
on "gardenia" and "hawkmoth". It's almost
identical to the caterpillar on this page: http://tpittaway.tripod.com/sphinx/d_ner.htm
It eats faster than any caterpillar I've ever seen, and is
now as big asmy index finger (it had just hatched when I found
it) Looking for more information, I ended up back on your
site where you have quite a few pictures of the adult moths,
all from Hawaii, I think. We also get a lot of swallowtails
on our lemon trees. Any idea what type of swallowtails these
are? (not much tail in evidence, I know, but it is a swallowtail
isn't it? The caterpillars and crysallis look right.
Thanks again for fascinating website- I'll certainly visit
often as my kids and I are avid bug hunters, and find it difficult
to identify much of what we find, as I'm more familiar with
the bugs found back home in England.
Katy
Hi Katy,
We are very happy you sent in your Oleander Sphinx Caterpillar
as it will help other readers identify their caterpillars.
We are unsure what species of swallowtail in Sudan feeds on
lemon.
Tiger Swallowtail Chrysalis
(03/18/2006) Tiger Swallow Tail
Hello - My children and I are wondering, will this chrysalis
transform in to a beautiful Tiger Swallow Tail? We found him
crawling up on a wall and housed him in our bug house. We
identified the caterpillar that night and the next day he
turned into a chrysalis. We read that the last generation
of the Tiger Swallow Tail will chrysalis over winter. In the
picture we sent, we showed the bug house hanging outside on
our deck, under the eves. He has been there all winter. So
we are hoping to see a beautiful Tiger Swallow Tail this spring.
What time should this happen, approximately? In nature, the
caterpillar would have endured winter on a branch or the wall
we found him crawling on, right? Your site is awesome! Thank
you for taking the time to share all your information and
the great pictures.
Thank you,
Karla, Jacob & Isaac
Flathead Lake, Somers, Montana
Hi Karla, Jacob and Isaac,
This is most certainly a Swallowtail Chrysalis. They are distinct
in the upright position with the girdle of silk around the
midsection. We are guessing perhaps you will see an adult
butterfly in May, or perhaps June. It really depends on when
spring arrives in Montana. The butterfly will need nectar
from flowers to survive, so they will not emerge until there
is a food source available. Just make sure the Chrysalis does
not get too warm before there are flowers.
Ficus
Sphinx Caterpillar
(03/16/2006) WTB?
Look what the cat dragged in. I think she found it in our
ficus hedge. It is a bit over 3" long. Love your website,
as do my 3 and 6 year olds. :-)
Cheryl
Deerfield Beach, FL
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for you nice letter. Our site is very popular with
kids of all ages. This is a Ficus Sphinx Caterpillar. Yours
sounds like a small specimen.
Stinging Brazilian Caterpillar
(03/16/2006) Brazilian Caterpillar
Hi there
Just came back from Salvador in Brazil, where I came across
this caterpillar (along with about 30 of its friends) on one
of the plants. Someone told me there it was known popularly
as largata de fogo, but no-one could tell me if it turned
into a butterfly or a moth. It was about 5" long and
if you happen to brush against one of its spiny hairs, you
really know about it! Have you come across this one before?
Yours
MARC FORDE
Hi Marc,
We don't recognize your beautiful stinging Caterpillar. We
will post it and perhaps someone will identify it.
Tiger Swallowtail Black Morph and Inchworm
(03/16/2006) Inchworm/Oak Besma? Butterfly?
Hello again What's That Bug.
I noticed on the Caterpiller page you have the Inchworm/Oak
Besma identification, but the picture is hard to see. I'd
like to contribute my own. Again, these are found in my backyard
in central Indiana. I have also included a picture of a butterfly
I found at the Gatlinburg Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Aquarium
in Tennessee. I searched the site, but I'm unsure as the type
of butterfly it is. Can you help?
Thanks!
Heather Burdette
 
Hi Heather,
Your unidentified butterfly is a Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio
glaucus, but a black morph. According to BugGuide:
"A dark phase occurs in females through much of range, esepcially
in southern states. The stripes are still faintly visible
from some angles. The black females may be distinguished from
other swallowtails from below, by the absence of the band
of orange spots on the hind wing seen on Black and Spicebush
Swallowtails, and lack of iridescent blue of Pipevine Swallowtails.
" We are not entirely sure your Inchworm is an Oak Besma.
It appears to be feeding on a maple leaf and there are other
Geometrid Caterpillars that look very similar. Bugguide
lists the food plants as: "Oak, elm, poplar, willows, and
white spruce." So our verdict is maybe yes and maybe no.
Mottled Cup Caterpillar: Australian Stinging Slug
Caterpillar
(03/12/2006) Stinging Caterpillar.
Hi Bugman,
whilst walking past a eucalyptus tree whilst on holiday in
Queensland, Australia, my ear and side of head just brushed
a leaf and I received a stinging sensation. On returning to
investigate I found what I believe to be the culprit and have
attached a photo. Be interested if this is a common bug.
Regards,
Peter.
Hi Peter,
Your caterpillar bears an uncanny resemblance to a North American
species known as the Saddleback Caterpillar, Sibine stimulea,
except for the coloration. We suspect it is a close relative,
one of the Slug Caterpillars in the family Limacodidae, many
of which have stinging spines.
Dear WTB
The Stinging Slug Caterpillar is a Mottled Cup Moth, Doratifera
vulnerans, found throughout Australia. They eat the foliage
of Eucalypts, Melaleuca and sometimes exotics. The Moth is
brown and hairy.
Regards,
Grev
Mourning Cloak Caterpillar
(03/02/2006)
hi bugman.. I came home to find the wall outside my backdoor
in Southern Cal. covered with these beasties. They all seemed
to be climbing up to my roof and appeared more rarely around
other outside walls.
Do I need to call the exterminator? Or should I make peace
with them? My dog hasn't noticed them yet.
Regards
Andy Factor
Los Angeles, Ca.
Hi Andy,
This is a Mourning Cloak Caterpillar which will become a lovely
brown butterfly with cream colored wing edges and blue spots.
The caterpillars feed on elm, willow, poplar and occasionally
the floss silk tree.
If
in Florida, possibly the Tantalus Sphinx
Maybe Arrow Sphinx Caterpillar in questionably South Africa
(02/27/2006) caterpillar?
I know the pictures are bad. But I'm hoping you can i.d. this
guy (there are actually five on the plant) munching on our
silver buttonwood. It's sort of orange with a darker orange
broad band going down the length of its back. It has a creamy
colored head. Any ideas? Thank you! I love your site!
Joseph
Hi Joseph,
Based on assumptions we have made, this could be an Arrow
Sphinx, Lophostethus
dumolinii, if you live in South Africa. Your photo is
of a Sphinx Moth Caterpillar, and we typed sphinx
and buttonwood into a google search and came up with a
species that feeds on that tree. We found a photo of the adult
moth, but not the caterpillar, so we might not be right, especially
since we don't know from what part of the world you wrote.
We figured it was some sort of a Sphinx moth, but we are actually
in South Florida. Do you have any other guesses based on our
region?
A new web search led us to this bit of information about
Silver
Buttonwood: "Occasional larval host plant for martial
hairstreak (Strymon martialis) butterflies and Tantalus
Sphinx (Aellopus tantalus) moths." Sadly, we couldn't
locate an image of the larva online to verify that it is your
caterpillar.
Tetrio Sphinx Caterpillar
(02/26/2006) Venezuela Caterpiller
Hallo Bugman,
I saw this interessting Caterpiller in Merida / Venezuela.
The yellow stripes were much more flashy in the sunlight than
at the picture.
Christian
Hi again Christian,
This one we know. This is a Tetrio Sphinx Caterpillar, Pseudosphinx
tetrio.
Probably
Stinging Caterpillar from Madagascar
(02/26/2006) Caterpillar in Madagaskar
Hallo Bugman,
I read, that you are interested in the animals of Madagaskar.
Here ist a picture of a nice caterpillar.
Christian
Hi again Christian,
We suspect this caterpillar will sting if you come into contact
with those spines.
Mystery Sphinx Caterpillar from Unknown Part of the
World!!!! dicovered to be Thailand
(02/20/2006) Caterpillar Identification
Hello
Well I found 3 of these babies happily munching away in my
garden this morning! They are about 10cm long, as fat as my
thumb and have a little yellow tail. I'd like to know what
they are, if they're particularly common and also how long
I will have to wait before they stop demolishing my plants!
With thanks
Nikki
Hi Nikki,
We would love to identify your caterpillar, but without global
coordinates, we don't know where to start looking for an exact
Sphinx Moth species from the 1000's of possibilities. The
name of the food plant would also help.
Apologies at not mentioning I'm in Bangkok, Thailand...it
must have been over excitement at having dinosaur like caterpillars
in my garden! I've narrowed down the shrub they're eating
to some kind of Gardenia, maybe 'Cape'. I hope this helps.
We did locate a website of the Hawk
Moths of Thailand, but there are no caterpillar photos.
Pluto Sphinx Caterpillars
(02/18/2006) Caterpillar ID
Found this caterpillar on a vine on my porch in south florida.
I think its some kind of sphinx moth. Need your help in identification.
Thanks,
Matt
Hi Matt,
We are excited by your photographs which we believe represents
a new species for our site, though a true expert might contest
our findings. We thought your caterpillars bore a superficial
resemblance to the Tersa Sphinx, Xylophanes tersa, so we searched
for near relatives in the same genus in Florida. We love Bill
Oehlke's site for Sphinx Moths. We located Xylophanes
pluto, which we believe looks similar enough to your caterpillar
to be a positive ID. There is no common name for this moth
listed, so we are going to dub it the Pluto Sphinx. The near
relative, the Tersa
Sphinx has three recognized color morphs for the caterpillar,
including green.
Heterocampa species
(02/17/2006) Unidentified caterpillar
Hello!
I hope you can tell me what this is. We found it in a pile
of dead Live Oak leaves but it would not eat them. We have
tried asparagus fern and other plants that were nearby, but
so far it has not eaten a thing. This caterpillar is pale
lime green with brown teardrop shaped eyes, and has a geometric
pattern on its back. The pattern consists of two elongated
diamond shapes which are lighter green and are outlined in
light brown. The diamond shapes have a dashed green line proceeding
up the center, and I have seen the "dashes" dissappear
and reappear from the tail toward the head as it crawls, somewhat
like lights around a movie marquee sign. There is a dotted
line of light brown spots up each side of the body with each
body segment having a dot in its center. Do you know what
this is? I would like to know what it eats.
Thank-you very much!
Dawn Michel
Orlando, FL
Hi Dawn,
This is a caterpillar in the genus Heterocampa. Offhand, we
can't say what they eat, but armed with the name, you should
be able to find out easily.
Moth
Pupa
(02/09/2006) What a worm
Hello,
I found on my attic of my house this worm or larva. It's about
25mm long. The head is on left hand down of the foto and is
moving slowly. Can you tell my what's that.
Best regards
Paul Schwartau
Hi Paul,
This is a moth pupa, though we don't know what species.
White Lined Sphinx Caterpillar
(02/04/2006) Caterpillar identification help
Dear Bugman,
My daughter and I found this caterpillar at her school in
Santa Barbara, CA. We haven't been able to identify it. Could
you help us?
Thank you!
Marlee & Madeleine Richter
Hi Marlee and Madeleine,
There are several different color morphs of the White Lined
Sphinx Caterpillar, Hyles lineata, and this is one of them.
This is one of the commonest moths in Southern California.
The Laugher
(02/04/2006) My son found this caterpillar in the garden of
our Northern Virginia home. Could you tell us what it is?
We've tried looking it up with no luck.
thank you,
Melissa Thompson
Hi Melissa,
This caterpillar is known as The Laugher, Charadra deridens.
It feeds on the leaves of beeches, birches, elms, oaks, and
other broadleaf trees.
Florida
Caterpillar: Yellow Collared Scape Moth
(01/31/2006) Mystery caterpillar
Hello!
Alex's Mom here again! We love your website!!! Alex found
this caterpillar performing tricks at the circus. Actually,
it was climbing the chain link fence outside of Cirque du
Solieu in Miami. We took him home and tried to research what
kind of caterpillar it was so we could scrounge up some food
for it. No luck on finding what this is, could you help? It
has already formed a chrysalis within 12 hours of our bringing
it home. We're assuming that is why it was up on the chain
link fence. Thanks for your help!!!
Alex and his Mom
Hi Alex and Mom,
Sorry to fail you, but we don't recognize your little critter.
It might be a Noctuid Caterpillar, and superficially resembles
The Laugher, but it is a different species. We will continue
to research.
Metamorphosis
(02/22/2006) mystery caterpillar emerges as mystery moth
Hi there.
We sent you a picture of a caterpillar not long ago (see attached)
and we actually stumped you. So now that the moth emerged
today, we wanted to send you pics to see if you could figure
out what it is. My son thinks it's the Ctenucha Virginica.
Is he close?? Thank you!
Alex and his Mom
Hi Alex and his Mom,
Though your moth bears a striking resemblance to a Virginia
Ctenucha, the caterpillar is very different. We believe to
be a Yellow Collared Scape Moth, Cisseps fulvicollis, a much
closer caterpillar match.
Genista Caterpillar from Florida
(01/31/2006) Genista Caterpillar
Hi,
I found your website checking on the Genista caterpillar.
I've attached two pictures of them on the Lupinus diffusus
in Polk County, Florida. I had sent the pictures to an Entomology
Dept. at University of Florida for an ID. I read with interest
your posting of the caterpillar on another plant.
Paul Eisenbrown
Hi Paul,
Thanks for sending the photos. Genista Caterpillars are not
very common online.
Pachylia
syces syces
(01/29/2006) Caterpillar Identification
Hi,
My name is Kevin. I am from the USA but am studying Spanish
in San Jose, Costa Rica, for a couple of months. My class
found this caterpillar & have no idea what it is. Could
you please help me? I have searched several internet sites
but found nothing that seemed to match. It is hard to tell
from the pictures, but it is about 4.5 inches long.
Dumbfounded Kid,
Kevin
Hi Kevin,
Caterpillar identification is often very difficult. At first,
we thought there was a resemblance between your caterpillar
and the Ficus Sphinx. When we researched Bill Oehlke's site
for close relatives, we found Pachylia
syces syces. The caterpillar is said to resemble a Coral
Snake and they thrash around and squeak. The species ranges
from Mexico through Central America to Brazil and the larvae
eat the leaves of various ficus species.
Thanks for helping
Hi, It's Kevin again, otherwise known as "Dumbfounded Kid".
Over the weekend the caterpillar my class found turned into
a chrysalis/coccoon. I have attached an updated photo with
a scale for comparison. By the way, I am in 4th grade. What
does Pachylia syces syces eat? Thanks, Dumbfounded Kid
P.S. The caterpillar definitely did a lot of thrashing but
we never heard it make any sounds.
Hi Kevin,
The adults visit flowers and take nectar.
Sphinx Moth Pupa
(01/29/2006) What is that thing?
I found this in the dirt while digging up plants in my backyard.
I live in southern Florida. It looks like some sort of cocoon
but the articulated part on the opposite end from the big
hook can move in all directions. As you can see, it's a little
larger than a 'AA' battery.
John
Hi John,
This is a Sphinx Moth Pupa. If you found it in the tomato
patch, it is almost certainly a Tomato Hornworm.
Gaudy Sphinx Caterpillar: early and later instars
(01/24/2006) pandora sphinx moth??? Dear Bugman,
My 7 year old son Alex loves your site! We are always reviewing
the pictures to find caterpillars. My son found this caterpillar
on a vine on his school playground and brought it home when
it was a baby. He named it "Spot" because of the
spots. Now it's gotten huge, molted off his tail and doesn't
really have spots anymore. We looked at your site and are
guessing it is a Pandora Sphinx Moth based on the pictures.
Can you confirm this for us?
Thank you!
Alex's Mom
 
Dear Alex and Alex's Mom,
We probably would have agreed with you based on the earlier
photo as there are not always photos available of early caterpillar
instars and often quite a physical change occurs as they molt.
This is not a Pandora Sphinx Caterpillar, but a member of
the same genus, the Gaudy Sphinx, Eumorpha labrusca. The larval
food includes many vines according to Bill
Oehlke: "In Florida larvae have been found on Possum Vine
(Cissus sicyoides ). Cissus incisa, Cissus verticillata, Eupatorium
odoratum, Ludwigia, Magnolia, Parthenocissus and Vitis vinifera
are all reported hosts. "
Thank you sooo much! And you are so right, looking at other
pics on the web now that I have the correct name. Also we
are in Florida so that all makes sense! You the BUG MAN!
Thai
Caterpillars identified as Leopard Lacewings
(01/24/2006) Caterpillar
I saw these caterpillars while on vacation on the island of
Samui in Thailand. I thought they were beautiful and wanted
to know more about them.
We have no idea what these caterpillars are, but they
are so beautiful, we are posting the letter hoping someone
will identify them. If we were on a game show and had to venture
a guess, we would say a butterfly in the Nymphalidae Family.
Certain members of that family have spines and social behavior,
like the Mourning Cloak.
(04/10/2007) Caterpillar Identifications
Hello WTB,
Having reared and photographed several hundred species of
butterflies (no time for moths) for the past 25+ years, I
thought you'd appreciate knowing two IDs that I noticed while
quickly scanning your caterpillar pages last night . . . Thai
Caterpillars (01/24/2006) -- "Leopard lacewing", Cethosia
cyane (Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae, Acraeini); larval foodplant:
primarily Adenia and some Passiflora (both Passifloraceae).
See photo of adult and caterpillar at < http://www.hkls-forum.org/viewtopic.php?t=671
> . I hope this information is helpful and of some interest.
Best wishes,
Keith Wolfe
Antioch, CA
Two
Tailed Swallowtail: Adult and Caterpillar
(01/22/2006) Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail
I really enjoyed looking at your site. I have these photos
I thought you might like to see of the Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail.
I think it's just so awesome! The first photo is one I raised
that eclosed out of season (due to warm winter weather). The
second is the final stage of the caterpillar. In Texas they
really like to use the Hop Tree as a larval host plant.
Linda
 
Hi Linda,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos with our readers.
Oleander Hawkmoth Caterpillar
(01/21/2006) Daphnis Nerii Caterpillar!
You asked for it on 12/23/2005. The Oleander Hawkmoth Caterpillar.
And here it is! I have just today taken a few pictures of
this gorgeous specimen. We were walking just across an alley
from the First Hawaiian Bank in Pukalani Hawaii, when my niece
spotted it heading under a parked car. Well I had identified
the hawkmoth some months ago on another bug ID site [BugGuide]
and had been waiting to see one of these. I put it back off
the parking lot, under the pink Nerii Oleanders so it can
do its thing. I resisted the urge to put it in a bottle and
watch it hatch. Please see the two attached images and you
may use them to your hearts content. By the way, I have seen
Oleander Hawkmoth's all over this island. According to Bill
Oekhe and the Hear website, this larvae is way out of season.
(I think? Yeah that's a question.) Thank you for spreading
the beauty and understanding of our dear insect cousins. Monsters
they are not!
Aloha,
Jesse Francis,
Maui
 
Hi Jesse,
Thank you so much for the great photos, awesome letter, and
positive world view. Regarding them being off season, it is
the second report we received today, the other from Crete.
Shall we blame global warming?
Oleander
Hawkmoth Caterpillar: Two in a Row!!!
(01/21/2006) Caterpillar
We saw this in our garden in Crete. What will it turn into?
Regards Ian
 
Hi Ian,
This is the second Oleander Hawkmoth, Daphnis nerii, Caterpillar
photo we received today, the other from Maui Hawaii. It matures
into a lovely green moth and there is currently a photo on
our homepage.
Tersa
Sphinx Pupa
(01/20/2006) Can you ID this caterpillar and pupa? They were
both found in the mulch
beneath a hibiscus. Thank you.
Brandon Smith
Hi Brandon,
The pupa is a Tersa Sphinx. The caterpillars are difficult
to see, but do not appear to be the same species.
Probably
Parnassus Butterfly Caterpillar, not Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar
(01/20/2006) Cucullia sp.
Hi
I have attached the larva of what I think is a Cucullia sp.
I was able to find a reference on BugGuide.net but no specific
species information. Thought you might be interested in adding
this photo to your site. If you can tell me what species this
is that would be great. I found the larva in my yard on a
dandelion but it didn't appear to be feeding... just traveling
by. Thanks for your help.
Beth Hoar
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Hi Beth,
If we had to venture a guess, and it is a guess, we would
say Cucullia intermedia.
Update: (05/15/2007) Parnassian ID
Hello, First I want to tell you how much I Love your site!
I can't believe I have never stumbled upon it before now.
I just wanted to let you know that the Caterpillar listed
on page 4 that is Identified as Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar
or Cucullia intermedia might actually be a Parnassian. (Clodius
Parnassian) to be specific. I had one myself a few years ago
& can dig up some pics if you wish. It is a relation to the
swallowtail family. Again, Great Site!! Keep up the amazing
work!! Warmest Regards,
Misty
Hi Misty,
After looking at images of Parnassus
caterpillars online, we believe you are correct with the
genus at least.
Hi Daniel,
I have an image of its earlier instar as well if you are interested.
It is one those interesting caterpillars as the late instar
is completely different. I also was not able to get an ID
until the last instar & it seems none exist on any site I
can find at the moment. I also can not say Clodius for certain
as the darned thing escaped just before pupating.. So no adult
to compare.. I looked for it for months! I rear all caterpillars
in the house so it could not have gotten far... Let me know
if you would like the pics & size you prefer them sent. After
I emailed you I viewed your site again. (Again, Great work!!)
I see that you have updated the ID in question. I also noted
that you were unsure as to the correct ID I provided & followed
the link you posted. I just wanted you to know that "Apollo"
is an alternate name for Clodius.. Here are a few links.
http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/bio/insects/butrfly/fampap/pacl.htm
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1344
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1346
This guy is a difficult ID & documentation on the life cycle
is very sparse.
Misty
Hi again Misty,
We would love to get the early instar photos. Please send
them with information on where you gathered them.
Tussock
Moth Caterpillar
(01/19/2006) catapiller in Wisconsin
Hi, I don't know very much a bout bugs and things crawly things,
but while in Wisconsin this past Labor Day when my sister
and I came upon this out-of-this-world looking Catapiller.
We were on a path about 100ft from Lake Pepin in Maiden Rock,
Wisconsin. Lake Pepin is actually part of the Mississippi
River. I think it might be a Tussock Moth Caterpillar as seen
in the 4th section of your site, but it certainly was fun
to look at. My co-wroker here in Schaumburg, IL, Sue, told
me about your site and suggested i send you it. By the way,
the little guy was about 5 inches long, in case that helps,
and Sue is Lisa's Mom.
John R.
 
Hi John,
Yes, this is a Tussock Moth, more specifically the White-Marked
Tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma, but five inches long is
enormous. Give Sue a big hug for us and tell her we miss her.
Mexican
Caterpillar, possibly Automeris species
(01/17/2006) What is this?!?!
Hey Bugman!
Back in November I was walking through Mexico City when I
spotted this caterpillar on a tree!! I have been searching
online trying to find out what it is but to no avail. Please
help me identify it!
Thanks!
Carolyn
 
Hi Carolyn,
Sadly, there is not a comprehensive guide to Mexican caterpillars
and we don't recognize your specimen. It does bear a resemblance
to Saturnid Caterpillars in the genus Automeris. That is our
best guess. If you ever positively identify it, please let
us know. We hope the young lady in the photo did not get her
tongue stung as the Automeris Caterpillars have stinging spines.
Cecropia Caterpillar
(01/09/2006) Cecropia catapiller
Hi Daniel,
Just thought I would pass on this picture to you, it's a Cecropia
moth caterpillar. I was at Fort Michilimackinac in Northern
Michigan in August 2005 and found him crawling up a paper
birch near the fort. He was in the neighborhood of 3 inches
long, I couldn't get over how beautifully colored he was.
Steve
Coldwater, MI
Hi Steve,
Thanks for sending in such a wonderful image. It will make
it easy for our readers to identify the distinctively marked
Cecropia Caterpillar.
Monarch Chrysalis
(01/08/2006) can you tell me what this is?
I was wondering what will emerge from this cocoon. It is located
on a palm tree in my front yard?
Thanks.
Laurie Rose
Olde Naples Chocolate
Naples FL
Hi Laurie,
We would love to receive a complimentary gift of chocolate
for identifying your Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis.
Citrus or Chinese Swallowtail Caterpillar
(01/08/2006) Cute mystery caterpillar
Aloha!
After reviewing your site, I think this might be either a
swallowtail or a sphinx moth caterpillar, but I'm not sure.
I found it on a lime tree in my yard. The white on its underside
is coloration, not parasitic eggs. I went back outside to
double check after looking at the picture. Speaking of the
picture, sorry it isn't great-I couldn't get my camera to
focus on the bug instead of its surroundings. I live on the
windward (eastern) side of Oahu, in Hawaii. I love your site!
Can you identify my bug?
Thank you!
Ginger
Hi Ginger,
Though your photo is blurry, it is unmistakenly a Swallowtail
Caterpillar. We are almost certain it is the Citrus Swallowtail
or Chinese Swallowtail, Papilio xuthus. It is an introduced
species and supposedly the only swallowtail in Hawaii.
Milkweed
Tiger Moth Caterpillar
(01/01/2006) i found this in my yard i have never seen one
look like this. Its not a bad thing but i thought i was a
really cool thing can you tell me what kind this is.. thanks
for your time
robert fell INDIANA
Hi Robert,
This is a Milkweed Tiger Moth Caterpillar, Euchaetias egle.
It is also known as a Harlequin Caterpillar and it feeds on
milkweed.
Virginia
Lady Caterpillar
(12/28/2005) ID help
Hi,
I just recently purchased your calendar for 2006, and the
timing couldn't have been better because now I know where
to turn with my rather surprising discovery that a couple
of plants in my yard have some visitors. They are green and
black striped caterpillars with some white dots, as you can
see. There must be about 10 of them on the one plant. I pulled
one off for a close-up photo, and he rolled up. They don't
seem to have eaten much of the plant (yet?), but somebody
has been eating the purple sage nearby. I assume they're going
to turn into lovely butterflies, so I'm inclined to leave
them where they are. But if they pose a problem for the surrounding
fruit trees (fig, orange) or vegetables in the backyard, then
I might not take as kindly to them. Who are these guys, and
what if anything should I do with them? Thanks for your help,
Peter in L.A.
 
Hi Peter,
We are thrilled you are enjoying your calendar. According
to a photo in our Hogue book, Insects of the Los Angeles Basin,
this is a Virginia Lady Caterpillar, Vanessa virginiensis,
and according to Hogue: "it is scarce in the basin in comparison
to either of the other two species. There are at least three
members of the genus Vanessa, known as Ladies, and the Painted
Lady and West Coast Lady are the two more common species.
The Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui is probably the most well
known since it is prone to mass migrations. I have seen hundreds
of Painted Ladies on sunny spring days in the desert. The
caterpillar food preferences of all three species are similar,
and include Hollyhocks, Cheeseweed (Malva parviflora) a common
weed found in vacant lots, thistles, and nettles. They will
not harm your fruit trees. A fourth member of the genus is
known as the Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta, and was a favorite
butterfly of Vladimir Nabokov. Leave the caterpillars be and
nature will take its course.
Rustic
Sphinx Caterpillar
(12/28/2005) Manduca rustica?
I couldn't find out what kind of caterpillar I had, but with
the help of your (wonderful) site I think I found it...The
Manduca rustica. My dad found it while digging in his garden
planting new flowers. Could you tell me what it eats, and
how to care for it? Thank you!!
Sarah
Mesa, Arizona
Hi Sarah,
According to Bill
Oehlke: "Larvae feed on fringe tree ( Chionanthus virginicus
) and jasmine ( Jasminum species ) in the olive family (Oleaceae),
and on bushy matgrass ( Lippia alba ) and Aloysia wrightii
in the vervain family (Verbenaceae), and on knockaway ( Ehretia
anacua ) in the borage family (Boraginaceae), and on Bignonia
species like Desert willow ( Chilopsis linearis ) in the Bignoniaceae
family. Larvae have also been reported on Tecoma stans, Callicarpa
americana, Fraxinus, Helianthus annuus, Heliotropium, Lagerstroemia
indica, Lantana camara, Ligustrum japonicum, Ligustrum ovalifolium,
Plumeria acuminata, Plumeria alba, Ligustrum vulgare, Sesamum
indicum, Syringa vulgaris, Trichostema dichotomum, Annona
squamosa, Gossypium herbaceum and Himatanthus sucuuba . The
caterpillar has numerous white nodules on top of the thorax
and seven pairs of oblique, blue-gray stripes along the side
of the body. The horn is white at the base and blue-gray at
the tip. Host plants also include Crossvine, bignonias, and
various members of the forget-me-not and vervain families."
Tetrio Sphinx Caterpillar
(12/26/2005) bahamas bug
hi, this bug lives on my property in the bahamas. it seems
to be eating all my trees. can you tell me what it is? or
what it will grow to become. is it a vemonous caterpillar?
Robert
Hi Robert,
This is a Tetrio Sphinx Caterpillar, Pseudosphinx tetrio,
which feeds on Plumeria. It is not venomous. It matures into
a large gray moth.
Smeared
Dagger Moth Caterpillar
(12/26/2005) Mystery caterpillar
Dear Bugman,
I'm hoping you can identify this caterpillar. We found it
in our native plant nursery outside of Annapolis, MD and the
closest picture I can find that looks like it is the Western
Tussock Moth. Is there an eastern version, or is this one
a vacationer here on the Chesapeake Bay? Or is this a totally
different moth/butterfly? We have found many different caterpillars
and have been able to figure out the parents of most of them,
but this one has us stumped. (The farmer who leases the land
to us is amazed that we are growing "weeds" but
delighted by the butterflies.) Any help you give us would
be greatly appreciated...we like to be able to tell children
what the "bugs" are when they find them on the plants.
The plant the caterpillar is sitting on is a Shining Sumac,
Rhus copallina. Thanks....your website is amazing!
Ann
Hi Ann,
Thank you for getting back to us with the host plant, shining
sumac. We were not going to give up until we identified your
caterpillar because we love your letter. Long live the native
weeds and thank you for sharing such a wonderful viewpoint
with your children. We finally located your caterpillar on
BugGuide.
It is a Smeared Dagger Moth Caterpillar, Acronicta oblinita.
Caterpillars
of the Eastern Forests notes: "Pattern highly variable
but always handsomely marked: generally dark, with dark or
reddish dorsal warts bearing tuft of short bristly setae.
Head black, shiny. Dorsum with or without abundant white speckling.
Yellow, inverted V-shaped blotches separate white spiracles.
Four fine setae extend out from others at either end of body.
Food: many forbs, shrubs, and trees."
Mexican Tent Caterpillar
(12/24/2005) Hello again from the Yucatan of Mexico
You helped me with a lovely (and pesky) melon moth a month
or so ago and now I have a new question. The attached photos
show a woolly caterpillar that has a hard and shiny reddish
head. One photo shows how they gather at the base of trees
during the daytime. At night they climb the local trees -
one they seem to like a lot is a wild fig - and eat the leaves
until they look like lacework. Then, as the sun comes up they
stream down the tree trunks to gather in hollows and under
logs. They are really doing a number on the trees and if they
are going to hatch into something noxious I may consider spraying
them to reduce their numbers near the area where we live.
We live in a dense jungle so won't be anything close to eliminating
them overall. Another characteristic is that they sometimes
have a spiderweb-like thread that they emit. I googled the
description but don't find anything. I have looked at all
of you photos and don't see one that looks quite like it nor
any description of the behavior. Can you help?
Kathe Kirkbride
 
Hi Kathe,
Your written description and photos indicate this is probably
some type of Tent Caterpillar, though many do not form tents.
Huge aggregations often do considerable damage, but these
large numbers are cyclical and do not occur every year. Loosing
leaves is not a life threatening situation for trees. Poison
might do more harm than good.
Possibly Ficus Sphinx relative
(12/14/2005) unknown larvae
Hello,
Attached is a JPEG of a larvae, family Sphingidae I'm pretty
sure, taken from a dying date palm in Melbourne, FL over the
weekend just past. I'm unable to i.d. this critter and have
been a lepidopterist most of my entire 55 years on this planet.
The ag center people are stumped also. The palm itself was
shot full of holes created by white grubs (maybe palm weevil
larvae?). For all I know the white graubs are an earlier instar
of the green guy whose photo is attached. At any rate I'm
really curious to know what I have here and intend to try
and raise the larvae to adulthood. I'm setting out now for
some date palm fronds. Hope to hear back from you.
Best Regards & Merry Christmas,
Jim Culberson
Wow Jim,
We can't believe a lepidopterist is actually coming to us
for advice. We are not positive, but we believe this to be
the larva of a Ficus or Fig Sphinx, Pachylia ficus. Is there
a Ficus tree near the palm? The larvae of the Fig Sphinx have
at least 4 different color morphs, and this one is different
from all we have seen. I can't wait to get home from work
to do additional research and to post it to the site. If you
do any additional web research and can substantiate our suspicions,
please let us know.
Daniel and Lisa Anne
Hi Daniel and Lisa Anne, Thanks very much for your email.
Nope, no ficus trees anywhere near the date palm, Phoenix
canariensis, that the larvae was found on. I should say found
in since the man who cut the dying palm down found dozens
of the larvae in the fibrous material at the base of the fronds.
The fronds were stripped I'm told. I would bet by this species
of Sphingid larvae. If this thing turns out to be an exotic
species Florida could have a real problem on its hands. I
hope that y`all have better luck than I in identifying the
creature. It is ensconced now in my larvae raising container,
a terrarium with a sreen lid, with a large piece of date palm
frond. It hasn't started chomping on the date palm frond yet
though. I am an amateur lepidopterist in that it isn't my
profession. I raise various species in my yard, have been
all over the world collecting specimens, take photos mostly
now since I've collected just about all the U.S. species.
My undergraduate degree was in marine biology and graduate
work in coral reef ecology, all back in the early seventies.
I own a publishing business and an ad agency. No work for
marine biologists back in the seventies.
Best Regards,
Jim Culberson
Hi again Jim,
We really want to get to the bottom of this. Please keep us
updated and we would love to have a photo of the adult if
it survives. We still think this must be one of the Dilophonotini
tribe and believe the answer can be found on Bill
Oehlke's wonderful site.
Gaudy Sphinx Caterpillar
(12/13/2005) snake caterpillar
Hi.
What a great site you have. I live on St.John ,US Virgin Islands.
Yesterday a friend came by with this huge caterpillar on his
baseball cap.He had just picked it up down the street,it was
crawling on a fence post.We were all afraid to let it crawl
on us because it looked just like a snake. It would follow
your fingers with it's eyes and puff up it's throat like a
cobra (not quite as extreme but definatly threatening) It
also had something on it's tail that looked a little like
a third eye or maybe a decoy little antenna that blinked rapidly.
Anyway, before we released him, we concluded it must be a
lunar moth caterpillar but then I found your site and now
we know that is not the case.Any idea what this beauty may
be?
Thanks,
Doug Benton
St John VI
 
Hi Doug,
What marvelous photos of a Gaudy Sphinx Caterpillar, Eumorpha
labruscae labruscae. This tropical species is somewhat common
in Florida. The caterpillars feed on Possum Vine, Ludwigia,
Magnolia, and other plants. The adult is a lovely green moth.
There is more information on Bill
Oehlke's amazing site.
Wheel Bug and Pink Striped Oakworm
(12/11/2005) Hey Bugman,
My family and I were camping in Huntsville State Park, north
of Houston, Texas, when we discovered many different "cool"
bugs. The kids just loved them, and a couple made good photo
candidates. I'm more of the mindset of, "Wow, what a
neat bug. Let's take a picture and move it away from our camp,"
rather than, "Wow, what IS that?" But if you do
know what these two are I wouldn't mind having the knowledge
for future reference. Thank you! I've had a blast reading
your site!
Kristen Rush
Brad, Kristen, Grace, Caroline & Beetle Rush
(& Max, Katy, Polly, Romeo, Franklin & the parakeets)
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Striped Oakworm |
Wheel
Bug |
Dear Rush Family,
You have some nice photos. The caterpillar is a PInk Striped
Oakworm, Anisota virginiensis. It is one of the giant silkworms
in the family Saturnidae. The other insect is a Wheel Bug,
Arilus cristatus, one of the Assasin bugs. They are beneficial
insects that eat plant eating insects, helping to keep populations
in check. They can give a painful bite but it isn't serious.
Sphinx
Moth Pupa
(12/05/2005) What is this?
My daughter and I found this under the ground, it was shallow
in the dirt. What is it??? Is it a larva or moth, it
wiggles and looks like it might have wings in there? We are
dying to know what this is.
THANKS
Therese
Plano, Texas
Hi Therese,
I'm guessing you two were digging in the vegetable garden
near the tomato patch. This looks like a Tomato Hornworm,
one of the Sphinx Moths. The pupa of many Sphinx Moths look
very similar.
Brown Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar
(12/02/2005) 3 great iPhotos
Greetings - These were unidentified until my brother
spotted your brown hooded owlet moth caterpillar picture of
one that I believe is similar. These were eating
purple asters in our yard in Eldorado, NM, just outside Santa
Fe late August, 2005. I thought these pictures
were better than the ones you have, so here they are. Wouldn't
mind getting credit for the photos.
Your site is great, although it seems to be very slow to load
certain screens on my dial-up connection.
Best regards,
Herkus Von Letkemann
 
Hi Herkus,
Yes, this is a Brown Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar. We are
posting it with your letter. Our site is currently experiencing
technical difficulty which we hope to correct soon.
Ficus Spinx Pupa: a continuing saga from the Bahamas
(11/28/2005) Found This This Morning
Hi Daniel,
I woke up this morning to find "Gary" (as
my daughter affectionatly named him) in this state. How long
can we expect him to be like this? Thanks for the speedy response!
Jill
Hi Jill,
Nice to see that your Ficus Sphinx Caterpillar, Gary, has
metamorphosed into a pupa. There are several generations per
year in warm climates, so we would guess that Gary would emerge
as an adult moth in about a month. Many Sphinx Moths pupate
underground, but the Ficus Sphinx pupates among leaf litter.
Brown Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar
(11/26/2005) Brown Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar
Thank you for your site. I searched many sites for close to
3 hours, and came to the conclusion my caterpillar
was a Brown Hooded Owlet, though the photos I
saw didn't quite match. Thanks to Tony in Colorado,
now I'm sure. My son photographed this one, also on an
Aster, in southeastern Utah near Canyonlands National Park
on October 1, 2005.
Ruth in New Mexico
Hi Again Ruth,
There is some degree of individual variation in markings and
coloration of the Brown Hooded Owlet Moth, Cucullia convexipennis.
It surely is a strikingly colored caterpillar. We love that
your image shows the flower of the host plant.
Ficus Sphinx
(Thanksgiving 2005) Caterpillar Found In Nassau, Bahamas
Hi,
Would love to know what kind of butterfly/moth this is
and how long it will take to metamorph. It is 4 and a
half inches in length.
Thanks
Jill
P.S. Great Site!
Hi Jill,
This is a Ficus Sphinx, Pachylia ficus. It is one of several
color variations of this caterpillar. The adult is a lovely
brown Sphinx Moth. We are not sure exactly how long the transformation
process requires, but probably approximately a month. Too
bad you chopped the big guy's head off.
Tussock
Moth Caterpillar
(11/23/2005) Caterpillers
Hi my name is Ron and I have a natural history museum in northern
California. I teach kids on the side natural history. Last
evening a Montana based friend who was once in my science
club, sent me your sight. I want to tell you how much I appreciate
it. I looked for three species of caterpillar that I can't
ID on your sight but didn't see any of them, but sure saw
a lot of neat stuff. I would like to list my three with you
in hopes of you identifying them. Thank you so much for your
service.
Ron
Hi Ron,
We are only able to view one of your caterpillars, and it
is a Tussock Moth Caterpillar in the genus Orgyis, but it
doesn't seem to exactly match any images on BugGuide.
Cottonwood
Dagger Moth Caterpillar
(11/20/2005) What are these bugs
Please help ID. The green hairy caterpillar with black spikes
was crawling on a log my grandson was target shooting. Photo
taken late Sept/early Oct in Brown County, OH (Southwestern
Ohio farmland). Green caterpillar walking on a board under
a green ash tree on the farm 9-26. How do I know if you have
ID'd this photos when I go to your website? Thanks.
Mary Jo White
Hi Mary Jo,
This is some type of Dagger Moth. We try to write directly
to people and we post the best and most interesting letters
and photos.
I have finally ID'd the green caterpillar with black spikes.
In Caterpillars of Eastern North America by David L. Wagner,
pg. 337, Cottonwood Dagger Moth, Acronicta lepusculina, Noctuidae.
Yeah!
MJ
Hummingbird
Clearwing Caterpillar
(11/20/2005) Caterpillar
Hello
Can you tell me what kind of caterpillar this is? It was found
in Kalispell, Montana.
Thank you
Margaret
Hi Margaret,
We believe this is a Hummingbird Clearwing Caterpillar, Hemaris
thysbe. There are some nice photos on Bill
Oehlke's Site.
Rustic
Sphinx Caterpillar
(11/20/2005) Hornworm
Hi,
My girls and I have been "raising" this fellow for
about a week now. I have researched and looked at every caterpillar
picture I can find. We know it is a sphinx but
are uncertain which one. The facts that are causing
the confusion are his horn color and his eating habits. He
came out of our olive tree and that is his leaf of choice
in his new "home". Have you ever heard
of this. He is not alone in our tree and by the
looks of the ground they have friends in our neighbor's olive
tree as well. Your web site is wonderful! Any info.
on our new "pet" would be appreciated.
Lynda, Erika & Emily
Hi Lynda, Erika and Emily,
The proper identification of Sphinx Caterpillars is often
difficult. We sometimes spend hours online trying to identify
them. Right now, time does not permit this but we would love
to know what you have. The olive tree host is noteworthy
information. Try going to Bill
Oehlke's excellent site to see if you can identify this
critter, then please report back so we can post the information.
Thank you so much for the tip. We checked out Mr. Oehlke's
site and e-mailed him. He has already identified our friend
as a Manduca rustica and has now made a Maricopa County
page for his site. He also told us that our caterpillar
was most likely violated by many parasitic wasps. Too bad
he may not make it to his adulthood. He has already begun
to pupate so I guess we won't know for a while. Maybe one
of his buddies in our other "habitat" will make it. My girls
and I are so grateful for the help! Your site is great!
Lynda, Erika and Emily Leatherwood
Scottsdale, Arizona
Heterocampa
Caterpillar metamorphoses into Moth
(11/20/2005) Heterocampa?
I dug up this 1 1⁄2”, pink caterpillar while working
in the garden October 6, 2005 and placed it in a container
of moist soil in my workshop. On October 27 it had hatched
and was then found on the wall of the shop where I photographed
it and then released without touching. The moth, about
1 1/8” long has some faint but dark green on the wings.
The under wing is mostly white. I am guessing
that it was eating from an oak tree, but that is only a guess.
Does it have a name?
Thank you,
Glenn MacRill
Houston , TX
Please do not publish my email address.
 
Hi Glenn,
Yes this is a Heterocampa species. We don't feel confident
enough identifying individual species. They do belong in the
Prominent Moth family, but that is the best common name we
can offer. Thanks for the photos, the first adult we have
received. By the way, we never publish email addresses.
Polyphemus
Moth Caterpillar
(11/17/2005) Unknown Caterpillar
Hi,
My nephew found this caterpillar on November 17, in the top
of an oak tree, in Apopka, Fl. Can you tell us what it is?
Thanks!
Patty W.
Hi Patty,
This is a Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar. It is one of the Giant
Silk Moths or Saturnid Moths. We have many photos of adult
moths.
Pink Spotted Hawkmoth Caterpillar
(11/15/2005) What is it?
Hi Bugman!
This is probably nothing extraordinary, however, I have never
seen it before. Any Idea what it might be? It
was in the lawn near my backdoor. We are having
a temperature change from 76 to 60 degrees today. I
don't know if that made him come out or not. I
live in North Texas. Let me know what it is if
you get a chance, Thanks,
Terry
 
Hi Terry,
All insects are extraordinary. This isn't a new species for
us as we have several photos of adult Pink Spotted Hawkmoths,
Argias cingulata, but these are the first Caterpillar images
we have received. We are thrilled to post them. They feed
on morning glories.
Spotted
Tussock Moth
(11/12/2005) Tussock moth?
I found this warming in the sun near Sebastopol (north of
San Francisco). Some kind of tussock moth? Lovely site!
Joan
Hi Joan,
More specifically, this is a Spotted Tussock Moth, Lophocampa
maculata.
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