Mystery Caterpillar in Greenwood, S.C.
Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Hi,
I work at the Greenwood Humane Society here in Greenwood, S.C. While our director was photographing dogs for adoption she spotted this awesome little guy. She called us out ot see if we could id it. I think it looks kind of like a tobacco hornworm ,but upon closer inspection that doesn’t seem right. She guesses it’s size at about 3″ long and 1/4″ in diameter. It is November 6th, but the weather has been very warm for fall here. Today it was around 65-70 degrees. I love your website! Thank you for your time, and all that you do!
M.Bohland
Greenwood, S.C.
Luna Moth Caterpillar
Hi M,
Your Luna Moth Caterpillar has probably come out of the trees to find a place to spin its cocoon. Luna Moths spin their cocoon inside of a dried leaf on the ground and pass the winter in the leaf litter under the snow if it is in an area that freezes.
Big Yellow-Green Crawler with mouse teeth
Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 3:25 PM
I found this crawling down our driveway this morning and the kids and I want to know what it is? We live in North Texas and have some Live Oak trees.
Always Wondering
Dallas, TX area
Polyphemus Caterpillar
Dear Always,
This is a Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar, Antheraea polyphemus, and you may find information on the caterpillar and moth by visiting BugGuide. Giant Silkworm Caterpillars like this are often noticed when they leave trees and search for places to pupate.
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Posted 03 November 2008
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Large Green Catapillar
Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Hi, once again, I took this picture of this catapillar in September, and of all the catapillars that I have watched I have never seen one of these before, It is eating a pine tree. It was about 4 inches long and as you can see in the picture it is green and yellow and hairy, and it seems to have little hands that it is holding the pine needle with, while chewing on them, Is this a catapillar or some type of larvae? Is it dangerous? I have grandchildren that love to hold bugs. Thanks for any information.
Lisa Benningfield
Eastern Kentucky, USA
Imperial Moth Caterpillar
Hi Lisa,
Your photo of an Imperial Moth Caterpillar is quite beautiful. The Imperial Moth Caterpillar feeds on a wide range of trees, and it is the only caterpillar we can think of that eats deciduous as well as coniferous trees. The adult is a large beautiful yellow and maroon moth.
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Posted 13 October 2008
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praying mantis eating a wheel bug, unknown eggs
Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 9:12 PM
HELLO BUGMAN!
… We are also including a hatching photo we took this August. The eggs were stuck to the brick wall outside our classroom and we watched daily to see what was going to happen. We’d loved to know what was coming out! Thank you so much for your help!
Always looking for bugs,
Fours and fives in PA
Southeastern PA
Imperial Moth Eggs Hatching
Dear Teacher of Fours and Fives,
We are most certain the eggs are those of an Imperial Moth. BugGuide shows good life cycle images and your first instar caterpillar, except for being a bit lighter, looks quite close to those images.
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Posted 12 October 2008
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Imperial Moth Caterpillar
Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 5:39 PM
The rangers at the tool shed at the Crater of Diamonds in southern Arkansas had captured this caterpillar and were asking everyone if they knew what it was.
I didn’t know, but I knew where to find out.
I hope this image is better than the one you have, but nevertheless I turned them all on to your incredible site. Pic taken near the first of October.
Mike Green
Southern Arkansas
Imperial Moth Caterpillar
Thanks Mike,
We don’t like to consider one image better than another, just different.
Same Individual, Different Submission???
Large caterpillar found at park
Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Large caterpillar found at park
I work at a state park in southwest Arkansas and recently had a visitor bring in a very large caterpillar (about four inches long) he had found while exploring. Several people took photos of the beautiful specimen, and many offered guesses as to what it could be. As my particular park is more geologically-focused, I regret to say I was not able to accurately identify the caterpillar for its finder. It was very lively, walking across our table, and had powerful legs and mandibles. I released the caterpillar onto a sweetgum tree on the park premises. I have browsed through numerous photos, hoping to find exactly what type it may be. The closest I have come is a luna moth caterpillar, but none of the photographs I have seen depict exactly the same features as this caterpillar. Can you help out?
Waymon
southwest Arkansas
Imperial Moth Caterpillar
Hi Wayman,
We have a sneaky suspicion that your co-worker Mike submitted an image of the same Imperial Moth Caterpillar. In the spirit of equity, we are posting both of your photos.
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Posted 09 October 2008
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Io Moth Caterpillar
My son found this caterpillar on a bush when playing outside. I homeschool my boys and we love to find caterpillars, identify them and then watch them change into their final stage. Thankfully, my boys did NOT touch this spiky little guy because I believe it is a Io Moth Caterpillar and have read that touching them can be painful. Any other info you might have about this fascinating creature would be very appreciated. The moth is beautiful and I really hope we’ll get to see it!
South Eastern PA
Korin Sutherland
Io Moth Caterpillar
Hi Korin,
Your identification of an Io Moth Caterpillar is correct. Congratulations on being our first posting using our new submission form. The transition to our new and improved website has been less than smooth, but we are fully confident our new site will provide our readership with many new features.
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Posted 20 September 2008
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Strange Variation of HHD
Hi. I ran across your site as my three year old and I are trying to put a name to some of the tiny creatures around our Florida home. I have seen the Hickory Horned Devil Catapillar many times but none of them look like ours. Please tell us if we have a true HHD or something else. Thanks so much. (See attached.)
Have a blessed day!
Jacilyn Wheeler
Hickory Horned Devil
Hi Jacilyn,
Your Hickory Horned Devil looks like a normal fifth instar caterpillar. Perhaps those you saw previously were younger caterpillars, but as you did not describe the difference, we are uncertain. At any rate, it is wonderful to have your gorgeous, yet typical, Hickory Horned Devil to add to our archives. As we are currently transitioning our site, the image will not go live until we finish the site migration.
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Posted 16 September 2008
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Hickory Horned Devil?
We found this big guy on a manzanita bush south of Tucson. After checking your website we believe it to be a Hickory Horned Devil, but we don’t know if they are common in Arizona. Can you please help us out? Thank you.
J.D. and Jennifer
Hi J.D. and Jennifer,
The Citheronia splendens sinaloensis Caterpillar in your photo is in the same genus as the Hickory Horned Devil. It does not have a common name. We might propose Arizona Devil for the Caterpillar.
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Posted 31 August 2008
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What’s my bug (caterpillar)
Hello you intelligent bug lovers!
On behalf of Yulee Elementary School in Yulee, FL, thanks for making this informative and colorful site. One of my co-workers has asked me to identify this species. She has it co-inhabiting a jar w/ oleander larvae. I have looked at all the submitted photos but still can’t decide what this is. Can you help? If you respond you’ll be informing almost 900 3rd-5th graders and their teachers. You may inspire a new generation of bug lovers. ps any hints on how we can feed it would also be appreciated.
Mary Austin-Harris,
Yulee, Florida
Hi Mary,
There was no way we were going to pass up the opportunity to educate almost 900 elementary school students and their teachers. This is an Imperial Moth Caterpillar, Eacles imperialis. According to BugGuide, they: “feed on leaves of Bald Cypress, basswood, birch, cedar, elm, hickory, Honeylocust, maple, oak, pine, Sassafras (Sassafras albidum ), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), sycamore, walnut. “
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Posted 27 August 2008
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caterpillar
Hi I found this monster in my koi pond in Iowa. I thought he was dead, but I laid him gently out to dry. He’s still alive and crawling around. Can you tell me what it is? I have a couple of other pictures of it.
Donna Hansford
Hi Donna,
It is the time of the year for caterpillars that burrow in the ground to pupate to leave their trees and shrubs in search of a place to metamorphose. These large caterpillars have gone unnoticed as they were feeding, but many of or readers encounter them once they reach ground level. Your caterpillar is an Imperial Moth Caterpillar.
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Posted 22 August 2008
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Hickory Horned Devil or Royal (or Regal) Walnut Moth Caterpillar Photo
Hi – My 8-year-old twins found this caterpillar on the street in front of our house (Aug. 21, 2008, Virginia Beach, VA) – we’re not sure what happened to it… Initially we thought he’d been run over (his mouthparts seem a bit damaged and there was liquid surrounding him – and very tiny ants were attacking him) but he didn’t really appear squished. We brought him in, rinsed off the ants and read a bit about him (which suggests that perhaps he fell out of a tree preparing to pupate and fell a bit too hard?) – and filled a jar with soft soil and what I hope are walnut leaves. He’s got a broken horn or two, and I’m not sure if he’ll make it (not sure what damage he’s sustained), but he is still moving around a little. Hopefully he’ll make it (we were afraid to leave him outside because the ants find him too attractive). Thanks for your site – my family and I use it almost every day to identify all the cool bugs in our yard!
Monica
Hi Monica,
Your Hickory Horned Devil would also be an attractive snack for birds and other predators. There is no way of knowing what caused the trauma. We received three images of Hickory Horned Devils today, and expect to get many more in the next month.
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Posted 21 August 2008
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Is this a cousin to the Hickory Horned Devil?
I found this on my driveway and cannot determine what type of Caterpillar it is. It looks like the Hickory Horned Devil, but, is smaller and yellow. Do you have any idea what it is, and what it will turn into?
We are not upholding our recent threat to directly trash all letters without locations for the simple reason that we are delighted to be posting our first Hickory Horned Devil of the year. It is a wonderful photo. The fact that you found this Devil on the ground instead of a tree indicates it is probably getting ready to pupate. Just before pupation, many caterpillars change colors. We expect to receive many more images in September.
Sorry about that. I live in Herndon Virginia.
Gerald
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Posted 09 August 2008
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