A spiny caterpillar – possibly a species of silk moth?
July 3, 2010
Hiya,
I found two of these guys happily munching away on a single beach plum (prunus maritima) in my front yard in Newbury, MA. They are approximately 2 inches long at the moment. I’m thinking they are some sort of silk moth instar, but I can’t find anything quite like them in my books. So naturally – I turned to you folks. Ideas?
Michele
Newbury, Massachusetts
Cecropia Moth Caterpillar
Hi Michele,
Your caterpillar is most definitely one of the Giant Silkmoths. It is the Cecropia Moth Caterpillar, Hyalophora cecropia, and we find it hard to believe that it is not pictured in your identification guides.
¶ Posted 04 July 2010 § ‡ ° CECROPIA MOTH CATERPILLAR
June 29, 2010
At the end of July, while at the park, we came across this HUGE catepillar on a weeping willow tree. We were all so amazed at it’s size as well as all of the brilliant, differents colors and patterns. We took a lot of pictures and came home and looked in our “Fun with Nature, Take-Along Guide” and we were amazed that we were able to identifiy it. It was soooo exciting for the children as well as their dad and I. We found out that it was a Cecropia Moth Caterpillar. Thought you might like to see some pictures. I must admit, I was a little frightened by the size of it, I did put my hand next to it to try to show the size, but I was afraid to go any closer!!!!
Always looking at nature, GSO, NC
In Greensboro, NC on a weeping willow tree
Cecropia Moth Caterpillar
Dear nature fans,
Thanks for taking the time to submit your photo of a Cecropia Moth Caterpillar. It is the first we received this year.
¶ Posted 30 June 2010 § ‡ ° Caterpillar
June 14, 2010
I found this lying under some ivy…check all the sources I usually do on-line without any success. Hope you can help me!
ESP:
Austin, Texas
Io Moth Caterpillar
Hi ESP,
Beware the stinging spines of the Io Moth Caterpillar, as an encounter can be quite painful. We are postdating your letter to go live on our website next week since we are going to be away from the office for a week and we want to have daily postings while we are away.
¶ Posted 22 June 2010 § ‡ ° Caterpillar of Ctenucha multifaria?
June 6, 2010
I collected this caterpillar on a driveway beside a grassy field on June 1. I’m wondering if it might be the larva of Ctenucha multifaria, an extremely colorful day-flying moth. The moth is quite uncommon, so no on-line photos of the larva of that species are available. The caterpillar in the photo is about 10mm long.
Ron Hennessey
Occidental, Sonoma Co., California
Buck Moth Caterpillar
Hi Ron,
We were pretty certain that despite no images of Ctenucha multifaria being available, that your hypothesis was incorrect. We looked at images on BugGuide of the Virginia Ctenucha, and they seem quite different. We would favor this being one of the Buck Moths in the genus Hemileuca, and there are many that inhabit meadows in California. Though the coloration is different, you can see the similarities with the caterpillar of the Elegant Sheep Moth, Hemileuca eglanterina, which is posted to BugGuide. It looks even more like the caterpillar of Nuttall’s sheepmoth, Hemileuca nuttalli, also posted to BugGuide.
¶ Posted 07 June 2010 § ‡ ° Square Eyed Hornworm
May 29, 2010
Found this amazing and ugly fellow on a Vitex agnus-castus nibbling away. He was up high in the tree and I only saw one. It is May in Wharton, Texas. He is between 3 1/2″ and 4″ long. I haven’t a clue. I wish I was a better photographer. My neighbor took some pictures – if I get them (and they should be better) I will send them on. I looked through all of your hornworms and didn’t see him, but then again, maybe he isn’t a hornworm. Thanks so much for this site. I have used it sooooo many times.
Carolyn
Wharton, Texas
Hickory Horned Devil
Hi Carolyn,
This is extremely early in the year for us to receive a photo of a Hickory Horned Devil, the caterpillar of the Royal Walnut Moth. Typically, we get the first Hickory Horned Devil photos around August. The Hickory Horned Devil is not a Hornworm, but a rather one of the Silkworm Moths.
Hello Daniel! Thank you so much for identifying the Hickory Horned Devil for me. I am so glad that he is a good guy and belongs here – even if he is a little early. I am attaching two photos from my neighbor, Kevin. They are delightful and I hope you enjoy them. Thanks again. Carolyn
Hickory Horned Devil
Hi again Carolyn,
Thanks so much for sending more focused images. Our readership will appreciate the clarity.
HIckory Horned Devil
Sphingid Larva
April 9, 2010
Picture taken last summer in our yard in Tucson, Arizona. I remember looking it up and found it once, but lost the ID. I think it fed on ironwood. Found a couple specimens crawling around. Can’t remember the month, but thinking it was late summer. Most distinctive were the mirror-like scales running the length of the body.
Lisa Rakestraw
Tucson
Hubbard's Small Silkmoth Caterpillar
Dear Lisa,
Despite the name Syssphinx hubbardi, the Hubbard’s Small Silkmoth Caterpillar is not a Sphinx in the family Sphingidae, but a Royal Moth in the tribe Ceratocampinae. BugGuide reports this species from Arizona and New Mexico, though it is also known from California, Nevada and Texas.
Hubbard's Small Silkmoth Caterpillar
¶ Posted 09 April 2010 § ‡ ° Photographed in the Mojave
April 8, 2010
Looking for the name of this beetle and the caterpillar photographed in the Mojave near Joshua Tree NP.
John
Mojave Desert, Calif.
Juno Buckmoth Caterpillar
Dear John,
Your caterpillar is a Juno Buck Moth Caterpillar, Hemileuca juno, which is described on BugGuide as: “early instars all black with branched spines arising from tubercles on all segments; final instar densely speckled with white, giving overall grayish appearance, except for reddish tubercles.“ BugGuide also indicates it is found from “New Mexico to southern California, south into western Mexico” and the habitat is “desert scrub and mesquite woodlands; adults fly during the day but are also active at night and come to light.” Finally, “adults fly from September to December larvae from April to June.” We do not like posts with more than one species, so if you want us to take the time to identify your beetle (yes our research does take time) please resubmit the photo with more information.
¶ Posted 09 April 2010 § ‡ ° More Polyphemus Love
April 2, 2010
About 3 1/2 weeks later… 
Matt
Houston, Texas
Polyphemus Eggs Hatching
Thanks for the update Matt. It is great seeing the result of the mating photo you sent.
¶ Posted 02 April 2010 § Eggs ‡ ° 
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