rss Thorny Tucson caterpillar
Location: East Tucson, AZ
September 30, 2011 10:48 pm
What is my bug?
Signature: Curious in tucson
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”.
”Bubbly” the caterpillar
Location: Portland, OR
September 19, 2011 9:14 pm
Playing at Patton Square City Park in Portland, OR this afternoon, some kids found this really cool caterpillar. Posting a photo on facebook led to many suggestions, including the Polyphemus Moth, Luna Moth, and Tomato worm. Regardless of what he was, or what he will be, he was really, really cool to watch. What do you think?
Signature: ALW
Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar
Dear ALW,
Your first choice was correct. This is the caterpillar of a Polyphemus Moth. The Luna Moth is not found that far west, and the Tomato Hornworm does not feed on oak.
whats this bug???
Location: odenville,al just n.e. of birmingham,al
September 17, 2011 1:15 pm
This bug was in my yard in odenville,al….
Signature: just wondering paw pawo
Hickory Horned Devil
Dear paw pawo,
The Hickory Horned Devil is North America’s largest caterpillar, and it is also probably the most unforgettable looking. Despite its large size, frightening appearance, and diabolical name, it is perfectly harmless.
PLEASE HELP! Polyphemus Moth caterpillar
Location: Santa Clara California
September 14, 2011 7:38 pm
found a huge (3-4”) caterpillar on my driveway, also, and am thrilled to have such great I.D. info here — but now what do I do now? B4 I knew what it was I put on grass (didn’t seem happy) so put on dry ground under agapanthus (still doesn’t seem happy). From your info looks like it’s ready to pupate BUT NO INFO ON WHERE THEY NEED TO DO THIS — we have many birds, raccoons, leaf-blowing gardeners etc. Also have many types of trees, (deciduous/not) I’m a wild bird and animal friend/feeder and would like very much to help this creepy guy learn to fly. Can you tell me where to put him? Found yesterday,9/13 and he’s still in the dry ground under aga. Santa Clara Ca, temperate clime THANK YOU!!
Signature: ??? What to DO????
Polyphemus Caterpillar
The Polyphemus Caterpillar will spin a loose cocoon incorporating a leaf. Sometimes the dried leaf camouflage cocoon of the Polyphemus Moth stays attached to the branch, but it more readily drops to the ground to pass the winter in the leaf litter.
Caterpillar
Location: Western PA
September 12, 2011 6:57 am
We found this beautiful bug. Can you tell us what it is?
Signature: Amy Guthridge
Cecropia Moth Caterpillar
Hi Amy,
This is the caterpillar of a Cecropia Moth, and judging by its size, the season and the silk it is spinning, it may be getting ready to form a cocoon. Cecropia Moths are the largest North American Silkmoths.
Large Caterpillar
Location: Warren County, New Jersey
September 11, 2011 12:03 pm
On September 11, 2011, after many inches of rain, we saw this rather large caterpillar crossing the street near our house in Warren County, New Jersey. It was 3.25 inches long and about 1/2 to 3/4 inches wide. I’ve never seen anything this large but I’m wondering if you could identify it for us? What will it turn into?
Signature: Curious in NJ
Imperial Moth Caterpillar
Dear Curious in NJ,
This Imperial Moth Caterpillar will bury itself to pupate and it will emerge as an adult Imperial Moth next year.
caterpillar ID
Location: Jemez Springs NM; Near Los Alamos New Mexico
September 3, 2011 5:53 pm
Hey, we found three caterpillars we haven’t seen before. 2 we found on our homeschool fieldtrip to the Jemez mountains NM, right by the hotsprings near Jemez Springs, 36 Miles west of Los Alamos. The green one is 3+ inches long and about 1/2 inch wide. It’s green with a ”spraypaintish looking”, reddish spot on top from head to tail.It has one yellow and black ”eye” on the rear end. White parallel streaks on the side.
We call the other one a ”snowflake caterpillar” because it’s spiky hair has a delicate snowflake like top. The two spikes in the front are a little bit higher then the rest. My kids say it stings.
The orange one is from our own frontyard in Taos NM. We never saw one like it before. It has a ”stinger” in the front, and two painted on eyes. It has white slashes on the side.
What are they???
Jenny, River (9), and Jordan (4)
ShineOnBeyond – homeschool
Signature: ShineOnBeyond Homeschool
Pre-pupal Achemon Sphinx Caterpillar
Dear Jenny, River, Jordan and the rest of the ShineOnBeyond Homeschool students,
Two of your caterpillars are the same species. The green caterpillar is a pre-pupal Achemon Sphinx Caterpillar. See this image on BugGuide for comparison. There are several different color variations on this species, and the pink blush at the top of the green caterpillar is, we believe, an indication that the caterpillar is preparing to pupate. Many species change color just prior to pupation. The orange caterpillar is an earlier instar or stage of the same species, the Achemon Sphinx. See this image on BugGuide for comparison. When the caterpillar molts between the fourth and fifth or final instar, the caudal horn is lost, leaving a caudal bump that resembles an eye.
Achemon Sphinx Caterpillar (third or fourth instar)
The remaining caterpillar is one of the Giant Silkmoths in the genus Automeris, and we believe it is the Zephyr Eyed Silkmoth, Automeris zephyria. We believe this is also an earlier instar, and most images online of the caterpillar of the Zephyr Eyed Silkmoth are of the fifth and final instar. This BugGuide image shows several caterpillars with the markings represented on your individual. We found a very close visual match on the members only World’s Largest Saturniidae website, but nonmembers cannot view the image.
Zephyr Eyed Silkmoth Caterpillar
Dear Bug guy,
Thanks so much – you have just made it to the top of our list of favorite resources. Keep up the amazing work, you rock!!!!
ShineOnBeyond
crazy creature?
Location: ohio, united states
August 12, 2011 9:12 am
can you tell me what kind of creature this is? we found it at work the other day, and maybe what it eats?? thanks.
Signature: christy
Hickory Horned Devil
Hi Christy,
We thought this might be an earlier instar of a Hickory Horned Devil, but according to BugGuide, it is a chocolate brown form of the typically green giant caterpillar. We still believe your caterpillar will continue to grow and eventually turn green. BugGuide states: “Larvae feed on leaves of ash, burning bush, butternut, cotton, gum, hickory, lilac, pecan, persimmon, sumac, sycamore, and walnut.”
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