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Stinging Slug Caterpillar

Aqua/Black Caterpillar
Location: Walhalla, MI
August 25, 2011 11:40 am
I can’t seem to find this little guy on-line anywhere. He is about an inch long and was close to a tree with moss similar in color.
We were camping in Walhalla, MI. That is close to Ludington, MI. It was the 19th of August 2011. Any leads would be fantastic!
Signature: Edelynn

euclea edelynn 300x273 Stinging Slug Caterpillar

Stinging Slug Caterpillar

Hi Edelynn,
According to BugGuide, this is a Stinging Slug Caterpillar in the genus Euclea, and it might be a Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar, Euclea delphinii, a species reported to be quite variable.  Caterpillars in the family Limacodidae often have stinging spines and they should be handled with caution.

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Posted 26 August 2011 § Stinging Slug Caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Bee Assassin eats Hornworm

Good bug / Bad bug?
Location: West Tennessee
August 24, 2011 8:16 pm
Wondering what bug this is that is sucking the life out of this tomato horn worm?
Signature: tn_wildflower

bee assassin 239x300 Bee Assassin eats Hornworm

Bee Assassin eats Hornworm

Dear tn_wildflower,
It is nice to see that though it is called a Bee Assassin, Apiomerus crassipes, one of the Assassin Bugs, does not subsist solely on bees.  This is a very nice food chain image.  See BugGuide for some comparison photos.

Posted 25 August 2011 § Assassin Bugs § Hornworms ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged:

Possibly a Spun Glass Caterpillar Tentacle: This is not an Insect, and it is most definitely not a Spun Glass Caterpillar

What is this?
Location: Kentucky
August 22, 2011 6:11 am
This floated down to a picnic area, seems to have 4 legs, it turned it’s head so we know it was alive. Not sure if is bug or vertabrate creature. An adelgid maybe? But only appers to have 4 legs.
Signature: Curious in Maine

other kentucky 300x225 Possibly a Spun Glass Caterpillar Tentacle: This is not an Insect, and it is most definitely not a Spun Glass Caterpillar

What's That Thing?

Dear Curious in Maine,
We are curious what you were doing in Kentucky.  We are not sure what this is, but we feel greatly confident that this is not an insect, nor do we believe it is an animal.  It is most definitely NOT a Spun Glass Caterpillar.

My friend and her family were picnic-ing in a park. This creature floated down and she got it on her finger. It was definitely alive because it turned it’s head.  I will  ask if she got any other photos of it.
THANKS

Update:  September 2, 2011
We have a new theory based in part on the comment we received: “Speculation over there is that, like you said, it’s not a spun glass slug caterpillar, but it may be just part of one. Maybe a bird got one and shook it at the tentacle floated down and still had some reflex action that made it appear alive.”  A new letter we just received that appears to be a Spun Glass Caterpillar that is losing its appendages or tentacles has made the comment we received seem correct.  We would amend the theory to allow for the possibility that Spun Glass Caterpillars might shed their tentacles just prior to pupation. 

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Posted 24 August 2011 § Other § Stinging Slug Caterpillars ‡ Comments (4) ° Tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Snowberry Clearwing Caterpillar

Unknown Caterpillar
Location: York, Pennsylvania USA
August 22, 2011 6:21 pm
Hi, I have a smooth green caterpillar we found near our stream. It is pale gray on the back, lime green on the sides with black dots and white halos around the dots. It has a yellow ring around its head and rear end. It had a black ”tail” with a yellow base. We looked in 3 books but couldn’t find it. Any help would be appreciated.
Signature: Mercy

snowberry clearwing cat mercy 300x200 Snowberry Clearwing Caterpillar

Snowberry Clearwing Caterpillar

Hi Mercy,
This is the caterpillar of a Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth, Hemaris diffinis.  The adults are diurnal sphinx moths that are often mistaken for hummingbirds.  You may read more about this species on The Sphingidae of the Americas website. 

Daniel,
Thank you so much for your ID and your information. I really appreciate it! -Mercy Harris

Posted 23 August 2011 § Hornworms ‡ Comments (0) °

Milkweed Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Fuzzy caterpillars on my milkweed?
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
August 22, 2011 4:25 pm
Hi! I let some volunteer milkweeds grow in my gardens this year in hopes they’d attract a monarch caterpillar or two.
Last night I was practicing my photography skills in my backyard and thought I might just check to see if I had any little monarch friends and found these fellas instead.
I was hoping you let me know what I’m raising in my yard. I surfed through your butterfly and moth caterpillar pics and didn’t see these.
Thanks!
Signature: Heidi

milkweed tiger moth cat heidi 300x197 Milkweed Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Milkweed Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Hi Heidi,
Monarchs are not the only insects with caterpillars that feed on milkweed.  Several moths including the Milkweed Tiger Moth Caterpillar or Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar, Euchaetes egle, also feed on milkweed.  You can see additional photos on this species on BugGuide.

Posted 23 August 2011 § Tussock Moth Caterpillars § Woolly Bears ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Unexpected Cycnia: Metamorphosis of a Tiger Moth

Cycnia Inopinatus – larva/pupa/adult, 1 of 2
Location: Naperville, IL
August 22, 2011 12:32 pm
Dear Daniel~
I found this little caterpillar on August 10th, on some asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed). I tentatively ID’ed it as Cycnia Inopinatus, but I’d read that although it might be locally common, overall it is uncommon to rare due to habitat decline. It was certainly the larva of a tiger moth, and its coloration, host plant and region (Great Lakes area) all pointed to the unexpected tiger moth. I placed it in one of my Monarch egg-rearing containers for observation, but before long, and before I could move it, it made its cocoon and pupated on the container’s lid. (Sorry for the red color cast.) It eclosed this morning, and sure enough, it’s a beautiful little cycnia inopinatus, similar in its adult stage to the delicate cycnia moth (cycnia tenera) that you have on your site, but whose larvae are quite different. The photos of the adult are in a separate submission, and I’ve included a side view so that you can see its orange, speckled abdom en. All the best to you!
Signature: Dori Eldridge

unexpected cycnia cat dori 300x206 Unexpected Cycnia: Metamorphosis of a Tiger Moth

Unexpected Cycnia Caterpillar

Cycnia Inopinatus – larva/pupa/adult, 2 of 2
Location: Naperville, IL
August 22, 2011 12:40 pm
Dear Daniel~
Here are the three adult photos of the cycnia inopinatus (unexpected tiger moth) that eclosed this morning. The second photo shows his (?) antennae, which were previously tucked under the body. It flew away before I could get a better side view! Best regards,
Signature: Dori Eldridge

unexpected cycnia cocoon dori 300x223 Unexpected Cycnia: Metamorphosis of a Tiger Moth

Unexpected Cycnia Cocoon

Hi Dori,
Thank you so much for providing our website with such a thorough documentation of the metamorphosis of the Unexpected Cycnia, Cycnia inopinatus, a new species of Tiger Moth for our website.  We are most intrigued with the number of creatures that depend upon milkweed for survival.  Readers who want additional information can see the postings for this species on BugGuide.

unexpected cycnia moth dori 300x212 Unexpected Cycnia: Metamorphosis of a Tiger Moth

Unexpected Cycnia Moth

Posted 23 August 2011 § Tiger Moths and Arctiids § Woolly Bears ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged: ,

Unicorn Caterpillar

Early Instar Unicorn Caterpillar
Location: S. Illinois
August 22, 2011 6:01 pm
Think this is an early instar unicorn caterpillar. Right about an inch long, on oak. This image is a little sharper than the one I sent along last year.
Signature: Bert

unicorn caterpillar bert 300x192 Unicorn Caterpillar

Unicorn Caterpillar

Dear Bert,
This does appear to be a Unicorn Caterpillar or another closely related member of the same genus Schizura based on photos posted to BugGuide.  If it is significantly smaller than the image you sent last year, it is most likely an earlier instar, though we cannot tell scale by comparing the two images.

Posted 22 August 2011 § Prominent Moth Caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Spun Glass Slug Moth Caterpillar

Beautiful Caterpillar
Location: North Carolina, USA
August 21, 2011 1:44 am
My two sons and I found this beautiful caterpillar last night. We like to find and photograph strange insects at night. I have tried to identify it with no luck. We hope you can help. We would love to see it on your great site. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Signature: Rick Thompson

spun glass slug moth cat rick 300x206 Spun Glass Slug Moth Caterpillar

Spun Glass Slug Moth Caterpillar

Hi Rick,
The Spun Glass Slug Moth Caterpillar, Isochaetes beutenmuelleri, also known by the ponderous common name Beutenmueller’s Slug Moth, is listed on BugGuide as being “uncommon” and it is also indicated that it feeds on “swamp oak.”  Many Caterpillars in the Slug Moth family Limacodidae have stinging hairs and spines and they should be handled with extreme caution.

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Posted 21 August 2011 § Stinging Slug Caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

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