horned caterpiller
August 24, 2009
Hello,
Some friends and I were taking a walk in Hemlock gorge in Maryland and we came across a very strange caterpiller. It was on a chunk of tree bark which was on top of a large rock in a stream.
Jason
Hemlock Gorge Maryland
Hickory Horned Devil
Hi Jason,
We always enjoy posting the first Hickory Horned Devil photographs of the season, and your photo is neither the first nor the second we received, but it is the most detailed. Thanks for sending us this gorgeous Hickory Horned Devil photograph.
Giant Caterpillar
August 22, 2009
Found in the garden on 12.12.08. Approx 10cm Long and 1.5cm dia.
Can you identify it and tell me what it has by now become? We put it over the wall onto an adjacen vacant plot of land. Haven’t seen any more
Roy
Gurgan, India
Oleander Hawkmoth Hornworm from India
Dear Roy,
This is a Sphinx Moth Caterpillar or Hawkmoth Caterpillar in the family Sphingidae. These caterpillars are often called Hornworms for obvious reasons, and they are harmless. The coloration of your specimen indicates that it was probably getting ready to pupate, which they do underground. We will put in a quick inquiry with Bill Oehlke to see if he recognizes the species, and perhaps one of our readers will write in with a species identification.
Identification courtesy of Karl
August 24, 2009
Hi Daniel and Roy:
This looks like the caterpillar of the Oleander Hawkmoth (Daphnis nerii). It is native to southern Europe, Africa and Asia but is popping up worldwide as its host plant (Oleander) is spread as a popular ornamental. They are apparently well established in Hawaii for instance. The mature larvae are usually green but it does come in a variety of color variations; this is a brown form. The adults are very well represented on WTB and there has been at least one posting of a brown form caterpillar. Regards.
Karl
8 inch black-spiked, green bodied, red horned Dragon Caterpillar
August 17, 2009
I found this huge creature in my Virginia Beach grassed yard.
F. Davis
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Hickory Horned Devil
Dear F. Davis,
Despite the blurriness of your images, the Hickory Horned Devil is immediately recognizable. The Hickory Horned Devil, along with other stunning insects like the Luna Moth and Dobsonfly, always thrill us when we receive the first photos of the season. The Hickory Horned Devil is the caterpillar of the equally stunning Royal Walnut Moth. Though 8 inches is something of an exaggeration, the Hickory Horned Devil is an enormous caterpillar. It is perfectly harmless.
Caterpillar ID
August 16, 2009
Hello bugman,
I was hoping you could help me with an ID of this Caterpillar. I took this shot yesterday in Coral Springs Florida, US. It has been eating the plant you see it on (Annona salzmannii ) a fruit tree from South America. I’ve seen a couple of these in different parts of the county but they are always on plant in the Annonaceae family.
Thanks for your help
Eric Bronson
Coral Springs, Florida
Fruit Piercing Moth Caterpillar from Florida
Hi Eric,
Our quick search did not turn up an ID for this distinctive caterpillar. We will try to do additional research, but for now, we will post your image in the hope that one of our readers can supply an answer.
Cool, I suspect it may be a new invasive species. I did my homework before I submitted it to you, and I couldn’t find anything about this online or in my reference books. I hope we can figure out what it is. That I keep finding them on Annonaceae plants may be a good clue.
Thanks again for your help
Eric Bronson
Hi again Eric,
You should post a comment on our posting of your caterpillar, so if anyone writes in with an identification, you will receive a copy of the comment.
Identification courtesy of Karl
Eric:
I am fairly certain this is a Fruit-piercing Moth caterpillar (Noctuoidea: Erebidae: Calpinae) in the genus Gonodonta. Alternative taxonomic systems place this genus in the sub-family Catocalinae. Caterpillars of this group tend to be variable and several species look similar to begin with, so nailing down the species is difficult. To me it looks most similar to G. bidens, but it could also be G. pyrgo or G. incurvata. If it is any of those three then it does belong in Florida. If it is a similar species from further south (there are a few) then it is a visitor, or perhaps an invasive. One example of a G. bidens caterpillar can be found at: http://www.tulane.edu/~ldyer/lsacat/index_frames.htm (click on ‘Noctuidae’ to get to a species list). K
Hi again Eric:
I forgot to mention that if you follow the link provided you will see that (in Costa Rica) the Annonaceae are given as host plants for G. bidens. That was a good and useful observation on your part. K
Large orange caterpillar
August 13, 2009
I have found many caterpillars similar to this one but they either have a spike on the end or an eye spot on the head or something thats different than ours.
I have searched the web and am stumped. I found only one pic online but it didnt have any info. It was just someones picture.
I have never seen one like this before.
It so far eats grape leaves and lilac leaves.
Stone family.
Rural south central Wisconsin.
Pandorus Sphinx Caterpillar
Dear Stone Family,
The Caterpillar of the Pandorus Sphinx, Eumorpha pandorus, looses its caudal horn as it molts, leaving only a button as evidenced by your image. In addition to orange, some Pandorus Sphinx Caterpillars may be green or brown and they are pictured in our archives as well as on Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website.
Here’s looking at ya – not
August 12, 2009
Brown with a couple of spots but two big spots looks like eyes. Bottom of him is a green color but what is strange is he has one stinger on his behind area. Looks like it could be a caterpillar but just want to make sure and see if he is poisonous.
Tammy
Meraux, Louisiana
Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar
Hi Tammy,
This is a Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar, and we just posted a photo of the adult moth about an hour ago. You are right about the spots as the caterpillar mimics a larger predator, like a snake, which may help prevent it from being eaten by birds or other predators that mistake it for a bigger potential threat. The stinger is not a stinger, but a caudal horn. It is not defensive in any way except visually.
Curious about this caterpillar
August 9, 2009
I’ve been trying to find out the name of this caterpillar but have yet to find anything even close to matching the pink of blue coloration. It was very small, 3-4 cm and very slender if that is of any help. Any information would be appreciated, thanks!
Kevin Toeneboehn
a dry forest in Puerto Rico
Faithful Beauty Caterpillar
Hi Kevin,
The moth of the Faithful Beauty, Composia fidelissima, is just as lovely as the caterpillar. You can find images of the entire life cycle on Bugguide. BugGuide indicates that Uncle Sam Moth is another name for the adult.
Wow it really is beautiful! I never would have guessed the adult would have a similar coloration. Thank you so much!
tersa sphinx caterpiller
August 8, 2009
i found one of these in my back garden are they common in britain, and do they bite. if there,s one will there more. what should we do with it.
donna bell
britain
Elephant Hawkmoth Caterpillar
Dear Donna,
This is not a Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar. It is one of two caterpillars from the genus Deilepila, probably the Elephant Hawk-Moth, Deilephila elpenor. There is a very nice photo of the caterpillar on the TrekNature website. Unless you plan to observe the metamorphosis, you should release the caterpillar. It is not an uncommon UK species.
beautiful caterpillar!
August 4, 2009
I am clueless on what this liittle fella might be. We found him on a weed down our driveway, we live in a wooded area in southeastern Virginia. Please help us, it is not eating and we are worried he wot make it.
clueless
south eastern virginia
Brown Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar
Dear clueless,
Do not be so hard on yourself. You know it is a caterpillar and you know it is beautiful. Now you know it is a Brown Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar, Cucullia convexipennis, and you may see a matching image on BugGuide. Also according to BugGuide, they eat the flowers and leaves of goldenrod and aster.
Caterpillar, grey, “one-eye”, snake like
August 3, 2009
We found this caterpillar in the Rouge Valley area of southern Ontario. It is grey, and at the rear end it has a mark that looks like an eye. It raises it’s back end and strikes like a snake. Could you please tell us what type it is, and what it turns into?
R & E
Rouge Park, Toronto, South Eastern Ontario
Abbott's Sphinx Caterpillar
Dear R & E,
Your “one eyed monster” is an Abbott’s Sphinx Caterpillar, Sphecodina abbottii. There are several different color morphs for the caterpillar that make them look like different species. You can see these variations on Bill Oehlke’s awesome website.
Huge red and yellow caterillar???
July 30, 2009
Hi, I am staying in the eastern cape of South Africa and yesterday spotted this caterpillar? grub? crawling along the ground. It was approx 3″ long and appeared to be trying to burrow or dig into the ground. It moved like a caterpillar – that is to say it lifted the centre of its body off the ground as it moved. The local men told me it is a ‘worm’….. but we wondered what is it really?? I have tried looking online but no luck. I hope you can help!
Sarah
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Carpenter Moth Caterpillar from South Africa
Hi Sarah,
We are fairly certain that this is a Giant Silk Moth Caterpillar in the family Saturniidae, but we could not locate a matching image on the World’s Greatest Saturniidae website. We will contact Bill Oehlke to see if he knows what species this is. Perhaps one of our other readers will be able to supply an answer.
Bill Oehlke responds
July 31, 2009
Daniel,
I do not know that one. i do not think it is a Saturniidae species.
Bill Oehlke
Possible ID from Karl
August 14, 2009
Daniel:
Another possibility is that this impressive larva is a Carpenter Moth (Cossidae), some of which can be quite large. Carpenter moths are stem and root borers, hence the common name for the group. In most species the larvae live out their terms (up to 5 years) within their woody tunnels and galleries and therefore have no need for bright colors; most are white or cream colored. Some species, however, do change hosts occasionally when they run out of food, their host dies, or to burrow underground to pupate (could the latter behavior be what Sarah observed?). Such species can be brightly colored, often a warning to potential predators of toxicity or bad taste. A good example is the Goat Moth (Cossus cossus) of Europe and northern Africa, which bears considerable resemblance to the larva in Sarah’s photo. I was particularly struck by the similar markings on the pronotal shield, just behind the head. The Goat moth is one example of a Cossid moth larva that does leave its tree in the final stages of development to pupate underground. The Cossidae are well represented in South Africa, including at least two Cossus species (C. windhoekensis and C. terebroides) but descriptive information about larvae is difficult to find and I was not able to identify a potential candidate genus or species. Regards.
Karl
Update
November 11, 2009
unknown caterpillar from eastern cape
On a 12/09/09 trip to an inselberg Touwsberg(S33 33 53 E21 03 03) in the w.cape I collected a similar caterpillar.It emerged on 06/11/2009) and was identified by Herman Staude as being probably Macrocassus toluminus of the family Cossoidea–stem borers which take years to complete their cycle.The most probable foodplant was Acacia karoo.Have pic of male that emerged.G
Geoff Wyatt
Caterpillar – large, green
July 28, 2009
Hi,
We spotted this fella eating away on our skip laurel bushes. It’s the end of July and we are in middle Tennessee. He/she is almost 4 inches long. Can you identify? Also, strange question but- could the critter’s waste possibly look like brown, segregated pellets? Those things are on several leaves beneath him and on the ground below. Thanks,
Thanks for your help, Karen
Middle Tennessee
Cecropia Moth Caterpillar
Hi Karen,
Your caterpillar is a Cecropia Moth Caterpillar, one of the Giant Silk Moths.
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