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American Dagger Moth Caterpillar

What’s this guy called?
Location: Upper Peninsula of Michigan
October 3, 2011 10:23 pm
I found this guy on my garage door when I got home today. He actually seemed very interested in me, he didn’t start reaching off the garage door until I started taking pictures. Hope you can let me know – I’ve never seen one that has looked like this before!
Signature: Curious

american dagger cat michigan 300x194 American Dagger Moth Caterpillar

American Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Dear Curious,
This distinctive caterpillar is the larva of the American Dagger Moth, Acronicta americana.  You may read more about the American Dagger Moth on BugGuide.

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Posted 04 October 2011 § Cutworms and Owlet Caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Hubbard’s Small Silkmoth Caterpillar

Thorny Tucson caterpillar
Location: East Tucson, AZ
September 30, 2011 10:48 pm
What is my bug?
Signature: Curious in tucson

syssphinx cat tuscon 300x196 Hubbards Small Silkmoth Caterpillar

Hubbard's Small Silkmoth Caterpillar

Dear Curious in Tuscon,
Your caterpillar is in the genus Syssphinx, and it is most likely Hubbard’s Small Silkmoth, Syssphinx hubbardi.  You can compare your photo to images posted on BugGuide which indicates:  “Larvae feed on Wright’s acacia, honey mesquite and catclaw acacia”.

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Posted 02 October 2011 § Silkworms ‡ Comments (0) °

Indian Meal Moth and Caterpillar

New uninvited guests
Location: Maryland
October 1, 2011 5:46 pm
Hi,
I am trying ti ID these characters.
Don’t know if their related or not.
Finding the grub/larvae mostly on ceiling, and on walls. Has a ”silk” thread. Also, Have seen a fly? with silver/grey/tan on wings both appeared around same time.See third photo. About 7mm-1cm in length. When crushed(sorry)insides leave a very pronounced black stain.
May have come in with some birdseed, though not sure.These insects appear daily, even after thorough removal of all visible specimens. Could really use your help. Thanks
Signature: Eric, The Bugged.

indian meal moth cat eric 300x239 Indian Meal Moth and Caterpillar

Caterpillar of the Indian Meal Moth

Hi Eric,
The moth in your photo is an Indian Meal Moth, Plodia interpunctella, a species that infests stored grain products as well as bird seed.  The caterpillar also looks very much like the Indian Meal Moth Caterpillar images posted to BugGuide, and since the appearance of both the moth and caterpillar happened at the same time, it is a fair assumption that they are related.  You might want to remove the bird seed and we would also recommend cleaning out the pantry to make sure they haven’t infested the oatmeal, nuts or cornmeal you might have stored on the shelf. 

indian meal moth eric 300x237 Indian Meal Moth and Caterpillar

Indian Meal Moth

Hi Friends,
Think I have found answer to my dilemma:
Indian Meal Moths!!! But if you have the time please confirm this.
Thanks again for your time, Eric

Hi again Eric,
We did not notice that you had already self identified your Indian Meal Moths prior to our creating this post.

Hello,
Let me first say thank you for your fast reply. I did manage to ferret
out the ID of these. But one thing is for sure I have found another interesting site to visit and
find it to be not only a valuable resource, but rather entertaining.
Best Regards, and Thank You again,
Eric

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Posted 02 October 2011 § Clothes Moth Caterpillar § Pantry Moths, Clothes Moths, Case-Bearers and Meal Moths ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Death’s Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar from Spain

green/yellow thingy
Location: Andalucia
September 30, 2011 7:38 am
Hi, I found this on the floor near to a stream in La Hoz, Rute, Spain. Any ideas please
Signature: Tiddy

deathshead hawkmoth cat spain tiddy 300x217 Deaths Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar from Spain

Death's Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar

Hi Tiddy,
This is the caterpillar of a Death’s Head Hawkmoth, Acherontia atropos, the European member of a genus that contains two other Asian moths with the same common name.  The common name refers to the skull pattern on the thorax of the adult moth.  The Animal Pictures Archive website contains some interesting information, including:  “These moths have several unusual features. All three species have the ability to emit a loud squeak if irritated. The sound is produced by expelling air from the pharynx, often accompanied by flashing of the brightly-colored abdomen in a further attempt to deter predators. All three species are commonly observed raiding beehives of different species of honey bee for honey; A. atropos only attacks colonies of the well-known Western honey bee, Apis mellifera. They are able to move about in hives unmolested because they mimic the scent of the bees.”

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Posted 30 September 2011 § Hornworms ‡ Comments (0) °

Hitched Arches Caterpillar

Hitched arches moth caterpillar
Location: Shenandoah National Park, Front Royal, Va
September 26, 2011 9:07 pm
Hello, bugman:
My husband and I wanted to share this picture of a very beautiful caterpillar that we found feeding on goldenrod yesterday in Shenandoah National Park. We were able to identify it as the hitched arches moth caterpillar through the BugGuide. We have never seen anything like it.
Signature: Peggy

hitched arches cat peggy 300x206 Hitched Arches Caterpillar

Hitched Arches Caterpillar

Hi Peggy,
With the onset of autumn, our mailbox is filling with caterpillar identification requests and spider identification requests.  Thanks so much for taking the time to self identify your Hitched Arches Caterpillar, Melanchra adjuncta, and also for taking the time to email the photo to our website.  BugGuide is an awesome source for insect identifications.

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Posted 27 September 2011 § Cutworms and Owlet Caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Fig Sphinx Caterpillar

Identification request
Location: Guatemala (Jocotenango, Sacatepéquez)
September 23, 2011 2:13 pm
Dear Mr Bugman:
I am currently volunteering in a combined elemntary & secondary school in Guatemala. Some of our fifth graders found this beauty in the garden. They’d love to turn it into a science project to see it become a butterfly, but I have my doubts that it will accept a jar as proper place for pupation. But I’m getting ahead of myself, since we don’t even know what it is yet.
Thanks for your help & keep up the great work!
Signature: Regards, Reinhard Prosch

fig sphinx guatemala reinhard 300x206 Fig Sphinx Caterpillar

Fig Sphinx Caterpillar

Hi Reinhard,
Your caterpillar is that of a Fig Sphinx, Pachylia ficus.  The Fig Sphinx is a large Hawkmoth, not a butterfly.  According to the Sphingidae of the Americas website:  “Larvae pupate in cocoons spun amongst leaf litter.”

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Posted 24 September 2011 § Hornworms ‡ Comments (0) °

Metamorphosis of the Achemon Sphinx

Achemon Sphinx Moth
Location: Cheney Kansas
September 21, 2011 9:03 pm
I decided to raise these five caterpillars that were feeding on my grapevines…So I purchased a cheap aquarium and collected the Cats from the vine.
I then fed them new grapevine leaves each day for about a week…They one by one burrowed underground..about 6 to 8 days later they finaly pupated.
This is the results of my 2 week experiment with these catepillars.
Signature: Chris Harris

achemon cat chris 300x206 Metamorphosis of the Achemon Sphinx

Achemon Sphinx Caterpillar

Hi Chris,
We are positively thrilled to post your photos documenting the metamorphosis of the Achemon Sphinx.  Your project should inspire our readers to attempt a similar endeavor in order to learn more about the creatures around us.

achemon pupae chris 300x140 Metamorphosis of the Achemon Sphinx

Pupae of the Achemon Sphinx

Your photos are quite nice, and we especially like the image of the caterpillar of the Achemon Sphinx.

achemon sphinx chris 300x183 Metamorphosis of the Achemon Sphinx

Achemon Sphinx

 

 

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Posted 22 September 2011 § Hornworms § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Azalea Caterpillars

4 ’Red Headed’ caterpillars grouped together
Location: Raleigh, NC
September 21, 2011 11:47 am
Hi Bugman,
I found out about you from a guy I work with. And thought that’s so cool!
The other day I saw that one of my azalea bushes was looking a little decrepit. Upon further examination, I saw on a couple of branches, 3-4 caterpillars clumped together on each separate branch. Each caterpillar is 2-3 inches long at least a 1/4 inch in diameter. Mostly black, with sort of yellow stripes and red heads (or tails?)
Signature: Carolyn

azalea caterpillars carolyn 300x217 Azalea Caterpillars

Azalea Caterpillars

Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for supplying the information that azalea is the food plant.  Knowing the food plant for a caterpillar makes identification so much easier, though in the case of these Azalea Caterpillars, Datana major, we have identified them enough times in the past to know what they were immediately.  You can also view the BugGuide information page to learn more about this species that feeds in groups and often strikes a dramatic pose when it feels threatened. 

Posted 21 September 2011 § Prominent Moth Caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

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