Purple and orange caterpillar
September 1, 2009
Hello,
I found this odd little caterpillar on a Black Locust tree near my house in south-western Pennsylvania. I tried searching through books and the internet, hoping to find out what this little guy is with no luck. [S]he is about 2″ long. Hopefully you can help identify the bugger!
Rebecca
Pittsburgh Area, Pennsylvania
Black Spotted Prominent Caterpillar
Dear Rebecca,
We started by searching the Owlet Moth Caterpillars on BugGuide, and then progressed to the Prominent Caterpillars. Eventually we identified your Black Spotted Prominent Caterpillar, Dasylophia anguina, on BugGuide. Distinguishing features according to Craig Biegler on BugGuide include: “the black ‘shoulder’ spot, shiny black ‘button’ on A8, raised rear end, elongated anal prolegs.“ The Caterpillars of the Eastern Forests website indicates: “Splendidly rendered in shiny lavender, orange (or red), yellow, and black; both color and pattern variable. Head orange and unmarked. Middorsal and 2 or 3 subdorsal and supraspiracular stripes, these thin, broken, and black; subdorsal stripe orange, broad; spiracular stripe lemon, broad. Eighth abdominal segment with black dorsal button. Subventer with line of raised shiny black spots just above legs. Food: lead plant, locusts, and other legumes. Caterpillar: June to October; apparently 2 generations.”
Black Spotted Prominent Caterpillar
¶ Posted 01 September 2009 § ‡ ° Caterpillars feeding on speckled alder
Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Hi!
I really like your website – it’s been very helpful in identifying many of the insects that I’ve found. These caterpillars I’m having a hard time with though. I saw them during the summer, munching on speckled alder leaves on an island in Georgian Bay. As you can see in the photograph, they are yellow, black and white striped, with reddish orange heads and a big reddish bump a little ways behind the head as well. They have several hairs and stiff black spikes along them. Do you know what they are?
Kristin
Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
Red Humped Caterpillars
Hi Kristin,
It took us a bit of searching before we were able to identify your Red Humped Caterpillars, Schizura concinna, but we eventually located it on BugGuide where it is described as: ” has bright red head and red hump over segment A3. Striping is variable but includes black, yellow and white pinstripes. Takes up a defensive posture raising the rear end when disturbed. ” This is a Prominent Caterpillar in the family Notodontidae.
¶ Posted 08 November 2008 § ‡ ° Camo Bug
Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 1:48 PM
I found this character hiding in a willow tree today. He hooks his tail around like a scorpion in a treatening manner when I stroked his back with a leaf.
Wondering in Waplole
Walpole MA
White Furcula Caterpillar
Dear Wondering,
Your caterpillar is one of the Prominent Moth Caterpillars, most probably the White Furcula, Furcula borealis, based on images posted to BugGuide.
¶ Posted 11 October 2008 § ‡ ° Do you know what kind of caterpillar this is? They were on our blueberry bush!
Datana Caterpillars on Blueberry
These are caterpillars in the genus Datana. Datana major, the Azalea Caterpillar is most likely and they appear to be early instars that will get more colorful as they grow and molt. You can read more about this species on BugGuide, where it is reported that they are sometimes found on blueberry leaves. The posture and group grazing of this genus are quite unique.
¶ Posted 17 September 2008 § ‡ ° unknown caterpillar
We aren’t sure if this came out of our greenhouse or from one of the trees in our yard. It is approximately 2″ long. We live at Moose Pass, Alaska, on the Kenai Peninsula.
This is one of the Prominent Moth Caterpillars, possibly in the genus Furcula.
¶ Posted 29 August 2008 § ‡ ° beautiful caterpillar
My husband and I found this on a blueberry bush. As soon as we touched the branch, “he” assumed this defensive posture, curling up and emitting a drop of liquid from end back end. It’s a beautiful creature, but what is it? I’m sorry but I wasn’t able to place the photo into this e-mail, other than attaching it. I hope you are able to open the document. Thank you
Sarah, Rolla, MO
Hi Sarah,
Despite being named the Azalea Caterpillar, BugGuide indicates that Datana major can also be found on blueberry.
¶ Posted 29 August 2008 § ‡ ° catarpilar
Hello Daniel,
Thanks for your answer, i found another one in the garden its the same as the first one but different collour, is it the same?? and the moth on the wall is that one of the catarpilar’s it was 5 cm Kind regards
Jeannette
Hi again Jeannette,
Thanks for sending us another photo of another Puss Moth Caterpillar, Cerura vinula. Many typically green caterpillars change colors, often to brown, red, orange, pink or purple just before pupation. We suspect that is about to happen with this individual. We will address you moth query in a separate email.
¶ Posted 24 July 2008 § ‡ ° catarpilar
Goodmorning,
I found this stuck to my trousers and i dont know what it is or were it comes from,but i like to know what it is, i live in Galway Ireland, kind regards
Jeannette
Hi Jeannette
Your caterpillar is a Puss Moth Caterpillar, Cerura vinula. The UK Moths site indicates that the common name comes from the moths resemblance to a cat. The caterpillar feeds on willow, poplar and aspen. Artist Katherine Plymley has a metamorphosis watercolor reproduced online.
¶ Posted 20 July 2008 § ‡ ° 
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