moth caterpillars Archives - What's That Bug?

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Possibly Tent Caterpillar Nest or Fall Webworm Nest

On May 20, 2013 · Category: Tent Caterpillars and Kin, Woolly Bears Tagged With: Unidentified · Add Comment

Subject: Nest
Location: Southwestern Pennsylvania 18mi north of Pittsburgh
May 19, 2013 10:17 pm
Today I photographed and interesting cocoon like nest, with a bunch of something(maybe insects) inside.
I’ve never seen a nest like this in the trees. It may, for all I know, it may be a small, tent caterpillar’s nest.
But the ones I’ve always seen are much larger.
I didn’t dig into the nest to find out ’cause I didn’t want to intrude on the bugs. Any Ideas?
Signature: Rich

Nest might belong to Tent Caterpillars

Dear Rich,
We agree with you that this might be the newly started nest of a recently hatched colony of Eastern Tent Caterpillars. We will try to get a second opinion from Eric Eaton. More information on the Eastern Tent Caterpillar can be found on BugGuide. As an aside, we will be flying into Pittsburgh in a few weeks to visit family.

Possibly Tent Caterpillar Nest

Eric Eaton provides another possibility
Daniel:
Tough call. I’m thinking Fall Webworm, as they tend to make webs on the outer reaches of branches, whereas tent caterpillars build webs in the crotches of branches, often several “tents” to one tree, or in a series of trees close to each other. Fall Webworm tends to have more isolated colonies.
Eric

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Buck Moth Caterpillar

On May 17, 2013 · Category: Silkworms · 1 Comment

Subject: Caterpillar in utah
Location: Hwy 95, south of Hite
May 16, 2013 10:40 am
We found a strange caterpillar in the desert of southern Utah on Hwy 95 south of the town of Hite on the Colorado river. We looked in the books and on line and could not find the little guy! He was about 3 inches long hiding in some Mormon Tea plant.
Signature: Chris

Buck Moth Caterpillar

Hi Chris,
This spiny guy is a Buck Moth caterpillar in the genus Hemileuca. Here is a similar looking individual from BugGuide that is identified as Hemileuca griffini and Bugguide only has sightings from Utah. According to the Butterflies and Moths of North America: “Habitat: High desert scrub. Range: Southern Utah south to central Arizona, west to southern Nevada.” The site also notes: “Populations should be inventoried and monitored to determine conservation status and impact of grazing on habitat.” BugGuide also has these remarks: “This species is considered to be threatened, due to its restricted range, and possible threats to its habitat from grazing of livestock. (4) Like other species in this genus, H. griffini caterpillars have venomous spines that cause a painful sting.”

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Copper Underwing Caterpillar

On May 17, 2013 · Category: Cutworms and Owlet Caterpillars · Add Comment

Subject: Mystery Chubby Yellow and Green Caterpillar on Oak
Location: Southern Illinois
May 16, 2013 4:39 pm
I’m usually pretty good at larger and cuter caterpillar identification, but I’m stuck on this one. It is pretty early in the season, only been decent caterpillar-growing weather for the last two weeks or so. About an inch long on an oak tree. Suspect he has some more growing to do.
Signature: -Bert

Copper Underwing Caterpillar

Hi Bert,
We found a nearly identical image posted to BugGuide where this is identified as a Copper Underwing Caterpillar, Amphipyra pyramidoides. The caterpillar is also called a Humped Green Fruitworm or Pyramidal Fruitworm, and BugGuide indicates: “larvae are general feeders on leaves of many broadleaf trees and shrubs, including apple, basswood, hawthorn, maple, oak, walnut, raspberry, grape, greenbrier.” Despite the name, this is not a true Underwing Moth which are in the genus Catocala.

Thanks very much. I thought it was much younger than it was, turns out they overwinter as eggs, so they get quite a jump on spring, and that one was nearly full-sized. Somewhat disappointed to see the adults are not very eye catching.

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Hornworm metamorphoses into Silver Striped Hawkmoth in South Africa

On May 8, 2013 · Category: Hornworms, Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths · Add Comment

Subject: Caterpillar mystery answered
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
May 8, 2013 12:56 am
Hi there
I while ago I asked about a caterpillar that I found. For the life of me I could not find out what it was, but was convinced it would turn into some kind of hawk/sphinx moth.
Luckily a few days later it started to pupate and I figured I would just wait and see what it would turn into. I finally have my answer.
This gorgeous little critter is a silver striped (aka vine) hawk moth – and he is beautiful!
I have been blessed to find 6 different hawk/sphinx moth species in my garden (johannesburg, south africa) and can now add this little guy to my sightings.
So excited
Signature: Bug lover – Cait Beling

Silver Striped Hawkmoth Caterpillar

Dear Cait,
We are terribly sorry if you submitted your identification of the Hornworm to us and we did not respond. We have a very tiny staff. Thanks so much for including photos of two stages of the life cycle of the South African Silver Striped Hawkmoth, Hippotion celerio. More information on the Silver Striped Hawkmoth can be found on the Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic website. Also, congratulations on your successful rearing of the adult moth. Did you get to witness any of the eclosion process? Do you have a photo of the pupa to include in the posting?

Silver Striped Hawkmoth

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Whitelined Sphinx Caterpillar

On May 7, 2013 · Category: Hornworms · Add Comment

Subject: Hornworm caterpillar
Location: Yuba City, Ca
May 6, 2013 8:33 pm
It is about 3 in long. We found it at my school site walking across the sidewalk. Any help would be appreciated!
Signature: Carrie

Whitelined Sphinx Caterpillar

Dear Carrie,
This is the caterpillar of the Whitelined Sphinx, a common Southern California moth that is found in all 48 lower states. The caterpillar is highly variable in color and markings. The Whitelined Sphinx Moths are currently flying in Southern California. Feed the caterpillar leaves from fuschia or check BugGuide or Sphingidae of the Americas for additional food plants.

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Southern Tussock Moth Caterpillar

On May 6, 2013 · Category: Tussock Moth Caterpillars · 2 Comments

Subject: what the heck is this?
Location: Dunedin, Florida
May 5, 2013 6:07 pm
This was on the wall outside my apartment door. I thought it was a caterpillar or moth or something that was going to kill me….can you tell me what it is? And if you can, I hope you don’t mind if I post it on facebook so others can know about your site. Thanks!
Signature: Carol Borrelli

Subject: What’s that bug?
Location: Dunedin, Florida
May 5, 2013 8:20 pm
Dear bugman,
Earlier today, we had a caterpillar sitting for hour on the exterior wall next to our apartment’s door. I eventually scooted a piece of paper underneath it and repatriated it to the front of the building, primarily to appease my wife and also to protect it from other tenants smashing it. Nevertheless, I am curious what it was that we saw there.
Thank you very much for your time and effort,
Roland
Signature: Roland

Southern Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Dear Carol and Roland,
We are guessing from your combined requests that you are a married couple. We think it is sweet that you each contacted us, and in an odd way, it reminds us of the “Starbucks scene” in Best in Show where Parker Posey and Michael Hitchcock meet at Starbucks, but at different Starbucks across the street from one another. This is a Southern Tussock Moth Caterpillar, Dasychira meridionalis, or another member of the genus, and you can compare your caterpillar to this photo from BugGuide. Some Tussock Moth Caterpillars have irritating hairs, but we are not certain if this is one of those species.

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Giant Silkmoth Caterpillar from Swaziland: Gonimbrasia wahlbergii

On May 1, 2013 · Category: Silkworms · Add Comment

Subject: Caterpillar
Location: Motshane,Swaziland
May 1, 2013 2:39 am
Hello,
We have these caterpillars in our garden on a number of bushes. The are numerous and devour every leaf before moving to the next plant. I live at Motshane in Swaziland and this is where the caterpillars are. I would like to know what moth or butterfly they come from.
Thank you for a wonderful site.
Signature: Jacqui

Saturniid Caterpillar

Hi Jacqui,
Alas, the best we can do right now is to provide a family for you. This is a Giant Silkmoth Caterpillar in the family Saturniidae. We will try to research the species later, but for now, we cannot take the time as we must leave for work. We will also contact Bill Oehlke to see if he can provide the species for you. The adult moths of members of the family Saturniidae are often quite large and beautiful. It does look quite similar to this Imbrasia species we posted recently from Rwanda.

Saturniid Caterpillar

Bill Oehlke provides an identification
Hi Daniel,
It is Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) wahlbergii
Please send more precise location and date if you can so I can document it
on the website.
Bill

Hi,
Where can I find information relating to the caterpillar. I am interested in the breeding cycle and would like to follow the caterpillar through the various stages.
Jacqui

Hi again Jacqui,
You already know what leaves the caterpillars feed upon. You just need to provide them with a habitat for raising in captivity. We do not raise caterpillars, but since you are now in contact with Bill Oehlke, he should be able to provide you with all the information you need.

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Hawkmoth Caterpillar from South Africa: Coelonia fulvinotata

On April 27, 2013 · Category: Hornworms · 2 Comments

Subject: Worm?
Location: South Africa
April 26, 2013 3:44 am
I found this worm crawling into the house. It’s the second one we have found trying to make it’s way indoors. The first on was yellow and green if I remember correctly.
What is it?
Signature: Don’t understand the question

Hawkmoth Caterpillar: Coelonia fulvinotata

This is a Hornworm, a caterpillar in the Hawkmoth family Sphingidae. We believe it is the caterpillar of a Death’s Head Hawkmoth, Acherontia atropos, though this is not the typical color we see for the species. Typically, the caterpillars of the Death’s Head Hawkmoth are a bright green and yellow color like your email indicates. According to the Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic: “Prior to pupation, the fully-grown larva darkens over a period of several hours, during which stage it anoints its whole body with ‘saliva’; this appears to hasten the darkening process. This completed, a suitable location for pupation is sought.” We are not certain why they are trying to get indoors, but they might be seeking a suitable location to pupate.

Update: May 5, 2013
We just received a wonderful correction and explanation of why this is actually Coelonia fulvinotata.

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Possibly Tent Caterpillar Nest or Fall Webworm Nest

Buck Moth Caterpillar

Copper Underwing Caterpillar

Hornworm metamorphoses into Silver Striped Hawkmoth in South Africa

Whitelined Sphinx Caterpillar

Southern Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Giant Silkmoth Caterpillar from Swaziland: Gonimbrasia wahlbergii

Hawkmoth Caterpillar from South Africa: Coelonia fulvinotata

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