Subject: Hairy Caterpillar
Location: Eustatia, BVI
March 3, 2013 11:48 pm
In late December, 2012 we saw many of these caterpillars crawling on the ground during the daylight hours while visiting the small island of Eustatia in the British Virgin Islands. They measure about 1 1/2 inches long. Eustatia is located NE of Virgin Gorda, BVI.
Signature: Donald Gudehus

Unidentified Woolly Bear

Hi Donald,
This appears to us to be the caterpillar of one of the Tiger Moths in the subfamily Arctiinae.  Many species are commonly called Woolly Bears.  We had no luck pinning down a species in the little time we had available prior to posting.  We suspect the Moths of Jamaica might be a good place to begin digging.

0   I like This

Related posts:

Unknown Arctiid from British Virgin Islands is Empyreuma anassa Antlion from British Virgin Islands Garden Tiger Moth Caterpillar Wasp Moth from the Virgin Islands: Horama pretus

Subject: Fuzzy cocoon? … fuzzy thing attatched to column in ft Myers beach fl
Location: ft Myers beach Florida
January 30, 2013 9:49 pm
Dear Bugman,
…. I also would like it if you could identify this cocoon, there were tons all over colums where I am staying, through the ”fur” I could see some shiny brown, this particular one was about an inch (maybe a little smaller since my sense of measurement lacks). Thank you!
Signature: Moth Ninja

Oleander Moth Cocoon

Hi again Moth Ninja,
Are there oleander plants where you are staying?  They are quite common in Florida.  We believe this is the cocoon of an Oleander Moth or Polka Dot Wasp Moth, Syntomeida epilais, and you can compare your photo to this image on BugGuide.

Dear Bugman, thank you for the quick response! I’m not too sure if there are any oleander plants around, but I’m sure your identification is correct seeing as I’ve seen that moth around! I wish I could stay to watch the cocoon hatch but I leave Florida tomorrow. I’m a huge fan of your site and have been for years. It’s helped me to realize house centipedes are actually beneficial in my house! And I am no longer afraid of a lot of little friends! Thank you again for the identification, I will keep my eyes peeled for anymore interesting buggies!

We are so happy to hear you are tolerant of House Centipedes.

0   I like This

Related posts:

Spotted Oleander Caterpillar Moth Polyphemus Moth Cocoon (or possibly Luna Moth Cocoon) Spotted Oleander Moth Caterpillar Bug of the Month February 2013: Streaked Sphinx Moths in Florida

Subject: Small bug size of rice on wall
Location: Austin, Texas near/on lake USA
January 20, 2013 9:11 pm
Found this one night when I came home on the wall. They were all together just hanging out. The size of a piece of rice each of them are. That’s about all I know. Email me if you have any questions or I can help.
Signature: Don’t need one

Possibly Woolly Bear Hatchlings

We believe these are newly hatched Tiger Moth Caterpillars, which are called Woolly Bears.  There are many North American Tiger Moths and we are not certain of the species.  Tiger Moths are frequently attracted to lights and females will lay eggs on wall.

0   I like This

Related posts:

Woolly Bear Hatchlings, we believe Woolly Bear Woolly Bear Banded Woolly Bear: A mild winter in Minnesota???

Subject: catepillar
Location: mn
December 8, 2012 4:40 pm
found this in the snow in minnesota today can i keep it alive all winter?
Signature: sb

Banded Woolly Bear

Dear sb,
Even though your photo is out of focus, the markings and coloration on this Banded Woolly Bear, the caterpillar of the Isabella Tiger Moth, Pyrrharctia isabella, are unmistakeable.  According to BugGuide:  “The second brood overwinters as a caterpillar and pupates in Spring.”  In order for this individual to survive the winter and mate in the spring, you need to keep it cool.  We would recommend a sheltered location that is protected from the elements, but not heated, like a garage or unheated porch.  Keep it in a small aquarium or large jar with air circulation provided by a screen or other air permeable cover.  A small cardboard box would also suffice.  According to folklore, the relative size of the red band is indicative of the severity of the winter.  According to CirrusImage:  “Common folklore has it the severity of the coming winter can be predicted by the amount of black on the banded woolly bear, the Isabella tiger moth’s caterpillar. However, the relative width of the black band varies with age, and has nothing whatsoever to do with weather (Wagner 2005). Isabella tiger moth caterpillars overwinter, surviving freezing weather by producing their own antifreeze, with which their cells are infused.”   The Farmer’s Almanac website has a very thorough explanation of this lore, and it posits:  “According to legend, the wider that middle brown section is (i.e., the more brown segments there are), the milder the coming winter will be. Conversely, a narrow brown band is said to predict a harsh winter. But is it true?”  If the legend is true, your caterpillar would indicate a mild winter.

0   I like This

Related posts:

Isabella Tiger Moth Caterpillar Isabella Tiger Moth Woolly Bear Woolly Bear

Subject: ugly, painful rash from a cocoon
Location: Nitro, WV
November 14, 2012 11:55 am
Hi,
Two nights ago i tried on an old pair of pants that i kept in my basement closet. when i put them on i felt sting in my thigh that felt like a splinter and as i walked toward my mirror i felt a whole bunch of those stings so i ripped the pants off thinking there were bees in my pants or something. I immediately had a burning itchy rash all over my thigh. i looked in my pants to see if there were any bugs but all i noticed was group of small fibers that i thought maybe somehow my cat brought in stinging nettle hairs. Then this morning i noticed the cocoon in the floor where i tried the pants and realized that is what it was. I still have a rash 2 days later and its miserably itchy. I am curious to know what the cocoon is and how to make sure i get this insect far away from my house. Thank!
Signature: Lisa [Ed. Note:  Name withheld upon request]

Possibly Arctiid Cocoon

Dear Lisa,
Our first instinct is that this is the Cocoon of a Tiger Moth in the subfamily Arctiinae.  We didn’t search for an exact match, and though the color is wrong, this image from BugGuide shows the general form or cocoons in the subfamily.  We didn’t realize that Woolly Bears as the Arctiinae caterpillars are commonly called, had utricating hairs.  We have not noticed Woolly Bears in lists of stinging caterpillars we have linked to in the past.  The Ark in Space website is especially nice.  We wondered if perhaps this might be the cocoon of an Asp, but this image from BugGuidelooks very different.

Rash caused by Caterpillar Hairs

We will continue to research this matter to see if we can learn anything about the identity of the cocoon that gave you a rash.

Utricating Hairs

3   I like This

Related posts:

Woolly Bear Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar Two Woolly Bears Isabella Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Subject: Faithful Beauty Caterpillars in Central Florida
Location: Southeast Central Florida
September 9, 2012 12:48 am
Hi Daniel. This photo of twin Faithful Beauty caterpillars was just so gorgeous I wanted to share. I keep reading how they don’t stray north of Miami much but, these cats were all over devil’s potato plants at the Archie Carr refuge just north of Sebastian inlet. This would be considered south Central Florida on the east coast. A couple of the moths were flitting around, too. My husband and I saw them last year in October and came back this year (Sept.) to get photographs. The moths were too fast for us, but the cats were cooperative, not to mention quite photogenic.
Signature: Elizabeth

Faithful Beauty Caterpillars

Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you so much for sending in your lovely photo of Faithful Beauty Caterpillars.  Perhaps the range of the Faithful Beauty is expanding due to global warming.  Faithful Beauty has to be one of the most cryptic names ever given to a moth.

0   I like This

Related posts:

(07/18/2005) Caterpillars Metamorphose into Faithful Beauty Faithful Beauty Caterpillar DECORATED BEAUTY is Unidentified Mexican Beauty: Tiger Moth Black Witch in Miami

caterpillars and beetles
Location: Southeast Texas
April 14, 2012 10:22 am
We were on a nature hike with David Sibley, the nature guide author and artist when we were quite taken with these two lovely bugs. Help!
Signature: Curious in Houston

Salt Marsh Caterpillar

Dear Curious in Houston,
Your Caterpillar is a Tiger Moth Caterpillar, sometimes called a Woolly Bear.  We believe it is a Salt Marsh Caterpillar, Estigmene acrea, based on photos posted to BugGuide and our most recent posting of the species is also from the Houston area.  According to BugGuide, they are general feeders and:  “Larvae feed on a wide variety of mainly weedy plants including pigweed (Amaranthus spp.), anglepod (Gonolobus spp.), Sicklepod (Cassia tora), Dog Fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium), ground cherry (Physalis spp.), and mallow (Anoda spp.), plus crops such as alfalfa, asparagus, bean, beet, cabbage, carrot, celery, clover, corn, cotton, lettuce, onion, pea, potato, soybean, sugarbeet, tobacco, tomato, and turnip. On rare occasions, they also feed on leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs: alder, apple, cherry, elderberry, pear, poplar, and serviceberry, according to Handfield.”  We do not recognize the plant your individual is feeding upon.  Your beetle is in the family Cerambycidae and we will try to get a species identification.

Salt Marsh Caterpillar

0   I like This

Related posts:

Salt Marsh Caterpillar spins Cocoon Salt Marsh Moth Salt Marsh Moth: What Constitutes a Pest??? Salt Marsh Caterpillar