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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Silkmoth Caterpillar: Hyalophora kasloensis

Blue and Red Spiked Caterpillar
Fri, Jan 16, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Blue and Red Spiked Caterpillar
While wandering along a wooded path in northern Idaho, I found this amazing looking caterpillar in the high bushes. The colorful red and blue spikes really make it stand out, but i have been unsuccessful in identification. It was mid August and i was along the mountainous shores of Pend Orielle Lake. Thanks for your help!
Sarah
Northern Idaho

Silkmoth Caterpillar

Silkmoth Caterpillar: Genus Hyalophora

Hi Sarah,
Your caterpillar appears to be one of the earlier instars of a Silkmoth in the genus Hyalophora. Caterpillars molt four times, once between each of the five instars. The instars often look quite different, and many times field guides only hshow the final or firth instar. We believe this may be the third instar of either the Ceanothus Silkmoth, Hyalophora euryalus , or perhaps Glovers Silkmoth, Hyalophora columbia gloveri , or perhaps another species without a common name, Hyalophora kasloensis. All three are found in Idaho. We are going to contach Bill Oehlke to see if he can identify your caterpillar more exactly. He may want to know the exact county and date of the sighting.

Daniel,
It appears to be Hyalophora kasloensis which may be a self sustaining hybrid of H. euryalus and H. columbia gloveri.  Usually if all of the thoracic and abdominal tubercles are red, the insect gets classified as kasloensis, but could also just be a local race or variation of euryalus.  It is also possible that kasloensis is a valid species, not just a self sustaining (capable of reproduction) hybrid.  You could safely call it Hyalophora kasloensis
Bill Oehlke

Thanks Bill,
We considered Hyalaphora kasloensis as the most likely candidate by searching the listings for Idaho on the World’s Largest Saturniidae Site, the membership only website.  Readers may find out more about the site as well as seeing a photo of the adult moth by viewing the World’s Largest Saturniidae Site
Fifteen 2007 Individual Photo Finalists.

Posted 17 January 2009 § Silkworms ‡ Comments (4) °

Asp: Southern Flannel Moth Caterpillar

Small, pea-soup green, hairy critter
Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 2:27 PM
See the photos
Curious
Gulf south (USA)

Asp

Asp

Dear Curious,
This is a Southern Flannel Moth Caterpillar, Megalopyge opercularis.  It is sometimes called an Asp and it stings.

Asp

Asp

Posted 15 January 2009 § Asps ‡ Comments (0) °

Death’s Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar from South Africa

Gorgeous Mystery Caterpillar
Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 8:49 AM
Greetings,
I found three of these little guys, first they were with blue patterns with black and when i took the pic they were green, i havent seen these guys before or anything like them, they also have a funny little tail, they seem very timid and slow, could you please let me know what they are exactly, and what are their needs?
Siraaj Aziz
Durban, South Africa

Death's Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar

Death

Hi Siraaj,
At first we were going to write back and just say that you found a species of Hawkmoth Caterpillar in the family Sphingidae, commonly called Hornworms because of the caudal horn.  When we googled Sphingidae Africa, we quickly found an image of a Death’s Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar, Acherontia atropos, on a Biodiversity of South Africa website and we feel pretty confident that is your species.  The adult moth is pictured on the movie poster of the Academy Award winning Silence of the Lambs and played a role in the narrative of that film.  Regarding the derivation of name , according to the Biodiversity website:  “The Death’s head hawk moth is so called because of the skull-like pattern on the thorax . As far as the latin name is concerned, according to Pinhey (1975) : ‘Atropos, one of the Fates, was a daughter of Nox and Erebus and was illustrated… with veiled face and a pair of scissors to cut the thread of life. This is the thoracic pattern of a mask with scissors below it. A sinister but undeserved portrait.’”  Excellent information and more photos can be found on the Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic website.  The downward curve of the horn is distinctive in the mature caterpillar and is evident in one of your photographs.  By needs, we are presuming you want to raise the caterpillar to maturity.  Your photo of the yellow caterpillar indicates it is mature, or fifth instar and that it will soon pupate.  You should continue to feed the Death’s Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar with leaves of the plant on which it was found, and provide it with several inches of loose soil, not too moist and not too dry.  The caterpillar will dig into the dirt to pupate.  When its metamorphosis is nearly complete, the pupa will wriggle to the surface, the skin will split, and an adult moth or imago will emerge.  We would love it if you are able to provide us with images of the adult Death’s Head Hawkmoth.

Death's Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar

Death

Posted 13 January 2009 § Hornworms ‡ Comments (2) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Unknown Predatory Red Hemipteran Nymphs feeding on Imbrasia wahlbergi Caterpillar in South Africa

Unidentified predatory red bug/beetle
Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 3:29 AM
This bug (beetle?) appeared about five years ago in our rural, coastal area (Cintsa, East London, South Africa) and has been terrorizing the undergrowth ever since. Individuals patrol paths and garden areas, seeking prey. Groups participate in the kill, biting or stinging the victim repeatedly until it stops moving. They will then sit on the prey, presumably feeding, sometimes for the rest of the day. They have been observed attacking and feeding on centipedes, spiders and caterpillars (particularly the large black caterpillars that feed on African plum trees – see image).
They are red/orange with darker areas around where wings should be. They appear to have a pointed snout. We have observed them clustering under cover in larger groups overnight.
Dave Roberts
Cintsa, East London, South Africa

Unknown Predatory Hemipteran Nymph

Unknown Predatory Hemipteran Nymph

Hi Dave,
You just made us late for work. We really wanted to identify your predatory red Hemipteran nymphs as well as the Saturniid Caterpillar they are feeding upon, but our internet connection is so slow right now, we need more time. We are posting this as unidentified right now, but we are confident we will be able to assist you in a proper identification either alone or with the assistance of our readership. The Hemipterans don’t look like Assassin Bugs, which would be a likely candidate.

Predatory Hemipterans feed on Saturniid Caterpillar

Predatory Hemipterans feed on Saturniid Caterpillar

Update:Predatory Red Hemipteran Nymphs feeding on Unknown Saturniid Caterpillar
Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Hi Daniel:
I think the predatory bugs are probably immature assassin bugs of some kind, but I am out on a limb even with that. The Saturniid caterpillar looks like Imbrasia wahlbergi . An adult of this spectacular species appeared on WTB previously (Saturniid Moth from South Africa: Imbrasia wahlbergi – May 7th, 2007). Regards.
Karl

Thanks for the ID on the Imbrasia wahlbergi Caterpillar Karl. As we wrote to Dave this morning, we were running late for work. As things played out, we got to LACC to teach about 6 minutes before class started. We were going to search the World’s Greatest Saturniidae Site which contains the Kirby Wolfe link you provided. We will have to spend some time researching the Hemipteran nymphs now. They behave like Assassin Bugs, but don’t look like Assassin Bugs. Perhaps they are Predatory Stink Bugs, but they don’t look like Stink Bugs either. They actually resemble plant eating Hemipterans. We have run several images in the past of social feeding Assassin Bugs that feed on Millipedes, Ectrichodia crux, but these individuals look different if our memory serves us correctly.

Update from Eric Eaton
Sayturday, January 10, 2009
The hemipterans are likely in the family Lygaeidae. Many (most?) of the Heteroptera are opportunistic scavengers or predators. I once saw two small milkweed bugs feeding on a dead honeybee, for example. But, the bugs in the image are nymphs, so no way to be certain for sure (though I think it is safe to rule out assassin bugs).
Eric

Update from Dave:  January 11, 2009
Thanks, bug masters! Apologies for the omission of some info. Length is around 8-12mm, and it was a millipede they were eating, not a centipede. The millipede assassin bugs look pretty close, but they’re a little too red, and the bugs in question don’t have the third black spot on their back. I think you nailed the caterpillar – thanks again.
I’ll get the search going to find the adults.

Posted 09 January 2009 § Silkworms § True Bugs ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: ,

Tersa Sphinx Caterpillars

Unknown caterpillars
Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 4:20 AM
I thought I picked two brown caterpillars with fake eyes from my mother’s penta plant in Sun City Florida yesterday. When I opened the jar to photograph them this morning, I had two browns and two greens, all with false eyes. I never kill bugs without knowing what they are but I can’t find these in my caterpillar book.
V Parsons
Central Florida

Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar: Brown Morph

Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar: Brown Morph

Dear V,
Both the green caterpillars and the brown caterpillars are the same species.  The Tersa Sphinx, like many other Sphinx Moths, have caterpillars in different colors.  These different morphs probably aid in the survival of the species.  Predators that notice the brown caterpillars may not notice the green individuals just inches away.  To see images of the adult moth and to read more about the Tersa Sphinx, Xylophanes tersa, you can search Bill Oehlke’s excellent website.

Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar: Green Morph

Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar: Green Morph

Thank you so much! I gave the caterpillars to a friend with a lot of penta and a six-year-old grandaughter who loves bugs — she’ll take good care of them :)

Posted 07 January 2009 § Hornworms ‡ Comments (1) °

Slug Moth Caterpillar

I have no leads
Mon, Dec 29, 2008 at 8:30 AM
While working at an Outdoor Ed center, my co-teacher and I discovered this awesome creature and kept him in hopes of finding someone on staff to identify it. We found him in the woods on a particularly balmy day. His underside was nearly translucent and had some sort of fuzz around his perimeter, which was highlighted by bright orange spots, which were also along his back. we named him sid.
Lauren
the woods of Maryland’s Eastern Shore

Slug Caterpillar

Slug Caterpillar

Hi Lauren,
This is a Slug Moth Caterpillar in the family Limacodidae, probably Isa textula.  Many Slug Moth Caterpillars have stinging spines and they should be handled with caution.

Posted 30 December 2008 § Stinging Slug Caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Woolly Bear

Floridian Black Caterpillar.
Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Hello Mr.Bugman, let me start by saying how very much I appreciate your work. I have a very limited knowledge of bugs, but this site has taught me much. I used to have a serious, very serious phobia of all bugs. But you have taught me to turn my fear into curiosity, and for that, I thank you.
I found this little guy out side my house, on the porch. We live in Northern Florida, in Milton, USA. This picture was taken in December, and the weather was about 20 degrees, and it had just rained. I was worried about this caterpillar, but because I feared I might harm him, I did not touch him. I checked and did not see this type of caterpillar on your site, so I do not know what species he is. Thank you for your time, it is very appreciated!
Much Love, Nick from Florida.
Nick L.
Milton, Florida, USA

Woolly Bear

Woolly Bear

Hi Nick,
Your caterpillar is a Woolly Bear, the caterpillar of a Tiger Moth.  We can’t be more specific than the subfamily Arctiidae.

Posted 13 December 2008 § Woolly Bears ‡ Comments (1) °

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell: Imago and Caterpillars

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 6:43 AM
Hello Bugman:
As another Canadian winter settles in I take cheer in organizing the mountain of photos that accumulate during our short but brilliant summers. Here is another one of my favourite North American butterflies, the Milbert’s Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis milberti). Not only are they strikingly beautiful, they are also very widespread (most of Canada south of the tundra, and northern and western USA, particularly the mountain states). This adult was photographed in a high alpine meadow in the southern Alberta Rockies, and the larvae are from southeastern Manitoba. Our winters are long up here and one of the sure signs of spring is the re-emergence of these creatures in early spring. They are around all summer and one of the last to disappear in late autumn, when the adults go into hibernation. Another endearing feature; the caterpillars feed almost exclusively on stinging nettle! Regards.
Karl

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Hi Karl,
Thank you for sending your excellent photos of two phases in the metamorphosis of the Milbert’s Tortoiseshell as well as the detailed information on the species.  This is an excellent addition to our archive.

Milbert's Tortoiseshell Caterpillars

Milbert's Tortoiseshell Caterpillars

Posted 28 November 2008 § Brush Footed Butterflies § butterfly caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Orange Dog

Catepillar
Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Dear bugman,
My curiosity has overtaken me with what this beautiful catepillar will be born into. I found this specimen in Feb-Mar, in San Diego, on my doormat. Luckily we didn’t step on it. It was slow moving, as I played with it for a while before placing it back where I found it. It was about an inch long, smooth and soft. As you can see it prefers mimicry, hence the bird dropping look, yummy. I was just wondering if you could place a name on it. Thanks, love the site. Keep it up.
Chris, friend of all bugs
San Diego, CA

Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar

Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar

Hi Chris,
Your bird dropping mimic is the caterpillar of a Giant Swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes.  It is sometimes called an Orange Dog because it feeds on the leaves of orange and other citrus trees.  The butterfly is a lovely brown and yellow “tailed” species.  In recent years, the Giant Swallowtail has expanded its range to include much of Southern California.

Posted 26 November 2008 § butterfly caterpillars ‡ Comments (1) °

Imperial Moth Caterpillar

Caterpiller
Sun, Nov 23, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Hello, I found this really cool caterpiller in my garden and I can’t find any pictures that match him it seems most are green. I live in central Florida and would like to know what it is and what it eats. Any information you have would be great.
Thank you in advance!
P.S. my kids and I love your website!!!!
Felice Gilmartin
Central Florida

Imperial Moth Caterpillar

Imperial Moth Caterpillar

Hi Felice,
This is an Imperial Moth Caterpillar, Eacles imperialis.  Most specimens of caterpillars of this species are green, but in order to better ensure the survival of the species, there are also blue-green, brown, and orange color variations of this caterpillar.  Many caterpillars change color right before pupation.  Imperial Moth Caterpillars pupate in the soil, and we suspect this individual left the tree upon which it was feeding, and was searching for a nice plot of dirt in which to pupate when you encountered it.  Imperial Moth Caterpillars are not real fussy about their food.  Specimens are found on a large variety of deciduous trees and they will even feed on some coniferous trees.  Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.

Posted 23 November 2008 § Silkworms ‡ Comments (0) °

Stinging Slug Caterpillar

mystery Autumn caterpillar
Sat, Nov 22, 2008 at 5:57 AM
My children found this guy on their treehouse in October. We have scoured the internet and our caterpillar field guide for his identity. I suspect this is a moth larva.
J, M, and S
Baton Rouge, LA

Stinging Slug Caterpillar

Stinging Slug Caterpillar

Dear J,M, and S,
We are happy to hear the children did not suffer a painful sting after handling this Stinging Slug Caterpillar.  Your specimen is in the genus Euclea.  We found a matching image on BugGuide, but it is not identified to the species level.  The Spiny Oak Slug Moth, Euclea delphinii, is the only species identified in the genus, so your specimen is either a closely related species, or a color variation on the Spiny Oak Slug Moth.

Posted 23 November 2008 § Stinging Slug Caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Unknown Costa Rican Caterpillar

colorful caterpillar
Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Hello, Bug Man: Thanks for identifying my velvet moth. Here is a photo of a chartreuse caterpillar with a striking turquoise head. It has fine, branched white bristles and is about 2 inches long. I found it on my patio in Costa Rica. I’ve never seen a caterpillar like it before although I’ve been living here almost fourteen years. Any idea what kind of butterfly or moth it will be? I’ve seen a lot of skippers and large sulfer butterflies around lately and many moths. But I haven’t seen the caterpillars. During the heavy rains here many insects come on to my covered patio.
Mary Thorman
Costa Rica

Unknown Caterpillar from Costa Rica

Unknown Caterpillar from Costa Rica

Hi again Mary,
Sadly, there are not many online sources for correctly identifying the caterpillars of Costa Rica.  We would advise you to try to raise the caterpillar to adulthood to see what it metamorphoses into.  The 17th Century naturalist, Maria Sibylla Merian lived in Surinam for two years and she observed and documented insect metamorphosis.  Knowing the food plant is a big help in raising caterpillars.  Many caterpillars leave the food source when they are about to pupate, and that may be why you found this striking specimen on your patio.

Posted 22 November 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

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