I think I figured it out?
Location: Sonoma Mountan Range, California
December 15, 2010 2:09 am
Hi there, this is a photo I’ve sent before but didn’t hear back about…(no worries). I’ve continued to research and now I’m pretty sure it is the ceanothus silk moth larvae. I see you don’t already have a picture posted of the larvae, so I thought maybe you’d like to have it.
Signature: Mollyanne
Ceanothus Silkmoth Caterpillar
Dear Mollyanne,
First we apologize for not responding to your earlier email, but it may have arrived on a busy day and gotten overlooked. This is not a Ceanothus Silkmoth Caterpillar. This is a Royal Moth Caterpillar in the subfamily Ceratocampinae, and though there are some inconsistencies in the colors and markings, we believe it is the caterpillar of Hubbard’s Small Silkmoth as that is the only member in the subfamily known to be found in California. You can compare your image to the images on BugGuide an you will see the resemblance, but also the inconsistencies. Since Hubbard’s Small Silkmoth is supposedly limited to the Eastern portion of the state and not near Sonoma, we have our doubts. We are going to check with Bill Oehlke to get his opinion on this puzzling mystery. Dare we entertain the possibility that this is an unrecognized species? Do you have any additional photos of this caterpillar?
Bill Oehlke responds with a correction
Hi Daniel,
It is Hyalophora euryalus. The shrivelled body makes the scoli seems exceptionally long.
I think it is probably fourth instar.
Ed. Note: Bill Oehlke’s response supports Mollyanne’s original identification. This is indeed a Ceanothus Silkmoth Caterpillar, Hyalophora euryalus.
¶ Posted 15 December 2010 § ‡ ° Tagged: mysteries Some type of sphinx caterpillar
Location: Palm Beach County FL
December 1, 2010 5:56 am
I found this beauty in my live oak tree, along with a easily 3 dozen pink-striped oakworm caterpillars. I’ve not been able to decide what type of sphinx it is, although I’ve been on this site, bugguide, and Bill Oehlke’s site as well. It doesn’t seem to have a horn, as seems to be common on so many sphinxes.
Thanks!
Signature: Monique
Polyphemus Caterpillar
Hi Monique,
You were unable to identify your caterpillar because it is not a Sphinx, but rather, a Giant Silkmoth. This is a Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar, which BugGuide describes as: “Larva: body large, bright green, with red and silvery spots below setae, and oblique yellow lines running through spiracles on abdomen; diagonal streak of black and silver on ninth abdominal segment; head and true legs brown; base of primary setae red, subdorsal and lateral setae have silver shading below; end of prolegs with yellow ring, and tipped in black.“
¶ Posted 01 December 2010 § ‡ ° Caterpillar
Location: WEst Coast National Park, Langebaan , S. Africa
November 20, 2010 11:28 am
We saw a few of these caterpillars in the West Coast National Park about 100kms north of Cape Town , S.Africa. It looks like a mopane worm, and is the right size for a mopane worm but from what I can gather they are not found this far south and I dont think there are any mopane trees in the Park.
Any ideas?
Signature: Max Hopfl
Pine Emperor Caterpillar
Dear Max,
We identified your caterpillar as the Pine Emperor Moth, Nudaurelia cytherea, by researching on the World’s Largest Saturniidae Site. We found information on a virus that is being used to combat infestations of the Pine Emperor Moth Caterpillar on the Science in Africa website. We also found information that the caterpillar is edible and appeared on a stamp from Uganda.
Insects of Uganda Stamps
Hi Daniel:
Phew, that was quick. Many thanks for the identification. I knew it couldnt be the mopane worm , gonimbrasia belina,( which is also edible and indeed a very important food source for the northern people of southern Africa: Wiki says: It is estimated that South Africa alone trades 1.6 million kilogrammes of mopane worm annually, 8 and that Botswana’s involvement in this industry nets it roughly $8 million annually) as the mopane bush doesnt come this far south. Ironically, there are no pine trees in the West Coast National Park either, but they seem to have found a tasty alternative.
Beautiful creature, dont you think.
Regards and thanks again, Max
We are very lucky that Bill Oehlke has given us access to the World’s Largest Saturniidae website, though we cannot link to it since it is a member’s only website. It is a lovely caterpillar.
Unknown Silkworm with Tramp Stamp
Location: Suburb North of Atlanta, GA
September 20, 2010 8:40 am
Your site has fed a hidden fire in me for a love of bugs. I commonly find myself crouched over colorful insects snapping pictures or discussing the creature with friends and neighbors…and strangers. :/ My reputation even led to the neighbors walking over Saturday to share their find. My 9yo believes this to be an early luna moth instar but I wasn’t sure if that was the right identification. I couldn’t find any images online that exactly matched this fat green guy. Can you help us? He’s about two inches long. I’ve included pictures of a close up on its ugly light colored face, its front, stumpy and back, sucker legs. So cool by the way! Are the back legs truly suckers or are those fine hairs I think I see that make the legs act like the mouth of a venus fly trap? My 4yo neighbor was just as enthralled as I was watching the back legs open and close. But I ramble…another picture I’ve included is of the awesome tramp stamp mother natur e gave this silkworm…a smiley face on it’s backside. Love it.
Thanks for all you do, bugman. You’ve helped us many, many times and hopefully you can let us know if my 9yo was correct or if this was something completely different.
Update: Looks like I can only include three pics, so I won’t be sending the ugly mug. If you need it for identification, let me know. The legs and tattoo are much more interesting.
Signature: Resa
Prometheus Moth Caterpillar
Hi Resa,
Your caterpillar is a Spicebush Silkmoth, also known as a Prometheus Moth or Promethea Moth, Callosamia promethea, which we identified on BugGuide. We got a chuckle when you said you were attaching a closeup of the caterpillar’s head, because your photo is actually its rump. Then we noticed your update that you were not attaching the head photo. More information on this lovely moth can be found on BugGuide.
Rump of a Prometheus Moth Caterpillar
¶ Posted 20 September 2010 § ‡ ° Brown Chrysalis
Location: Maine, USA
September 18, 2010 6:14 pm
I found this bug on the ground, it could’ve fallen it’s 35 mm long.
Signature: Please help me, Tucker
Pupa of a Saturniid Moth
Hi Tucker,
This is the Pupa of one of the Giant Silkworm Moths in the family Saturniidae. Some moths do not spin a cocoon, rather they dig underground an transform into a bare pupa like the one you discovered. Sphinx Moths or Hawkmoths in the family Sphingidae pupate in that manner, but their pupae are distinctly different than this. We thought this might be the pupa of an Imperial Moth, but an image posted to BugGuide shows a more elongated form, and the same is true of the pupa of the Royal Walnut Moth which may be seen on the Beautiful Hickory Horned Devil posting online by Jana Miller. Perhaps this is the Pupa of a Luna Moth that somehow fell from its loosely constructed cocoon. The pupa of a Luna Moth can be viewed on the Featured Creatures website.
¶ Posted 19 September 2010 § ‡ ° caterpillar
Location: Wayne, PA
September 18, 2010 5:32 pm
My daughter found this in a wooded area and gave it to me, and I have no idea what type of caterpillar it is. I’m not sure what to feed it, or where to release it.
The first 2 pictures have a little more detail; the last picture shows the color a little more authentically. It’s kind of a greenish red. It’s big – about 3.5” long and about .75” ’tall’.
For some reason, we’ve been finding big caterpillars. First a tomato hornworm, then a hickory horned devil. Now this one, whatever it is.
Thank you!
newstart
Signature: newstart
Imperial Moth Caterpillar
Dear newstart,
This is the caterpillar of an Imperial Moth and we just finished posting another photograph of this species. Based on your individual’s coloration, we suspect it is getting ready to pupate. Imperial Moths pupate underground, so when the caterpillars are ready to metamorphose, they climb down from the trees where they have been feeding and they locate an area where they can dig underground. You probably don’t need to worry about feeding it because it is probably no longer interested in food. Release it on the ground in an area where the soil is not hard. We also just received a naked pupa of a Giant Silkworm Moth that might be an Imperial Moth, and we will post that letter next.
Mr. Marlos,
Thank you so much for the information. I released it near where it was found.
newstart
¶ Posted 19 September 2010 § ‡ ° BIG caterpillar
Location: Accomack County, VA
September 18, 2010 2:36 pm
Saw this big guy crawling up a tree in the woods near our house on the Eastern Shore of Virginia recently, and was wondering what it is. Fully extended, it was 4-5 inches long, and as big around as my thumb. I’ve never seen one close to that size before. Any help on the ID would be appreciated. Thanks.
Signature: Linda C.
Imperial Moth Caterpillar
Hi Linda,
This impressive creature is the caterpillar of the Imperial Moth.
Another mystery solved! Many thanks.
¶ Posted 19 September 2010 § ‡ ° Hickory Horned Devil vs. Cardinal
Hickory Horned Devil and Cardinal
Hickory Horned Devil vs. Cardinal
Location: Columbia, Maryland
September 4, 2010 4:21 pm
This was a battle between a Cardinal and a Hickory Horned Devil. After many attacks, the Cardinal finally gave up and flew away.
Signature: Edwin
Cardinal Gives up on Hickory Horned Devil assault
Hi Edwin,
Thanks for supplying our website with this marvelous documentation. Without birds, our planet would probably soon be defoliated since there are so many insects that feed upon plants. This looks like a young cardinal and a more mature bird would probably not have given up so quickly. The Hickory Horned Devil does not look like it weathered the attack very well.
Hickory Horned Devil
¶ Posted 04 September 2010 § ‡ ° 
rss
I like This
