Can you tell me if this caterpillar is a type of tussock moth? I’ve
looked at several caterpillars and can’t decide what it is exactly.
Ran across it in the woods near where we live that is primarly pine and
oak in Virginia. Saw one dangling and another was beginning to roll
itself up into a leaf. Hope you can help. This is a great website.
Marge Leitner
Hi Marge,
The Pale Tussock Moth or Banded Tussock Moth, Halysidota tessellaris, according to the Caterpillars of the Eastern Forest website, is: “Gray, dirty tan to yellow-brown with long paired white and black lashes on second and third thoracic segments. Food: oaks, willows, poplars, hickories, and many other forest and shade trees. Caterpillar: July to October”
what’s this caterpillar?
Hi, I found this guy eating my petunias. I’ve never seen one quite like it so I refrained from smooshing it. I’m happy to share my plants if it is something cool. What is it? I live in Southern Oregon. The caterpillar is approximately 1 inch long. It is a rosy red with a light pink or white stripe along both sides. Thank you,
Rebecca
Sorry Rebecca,
We don’t know what your caterpillar is. We suspect it is a butterfly and not a moth. It is a beautiful color, almost camoflauged on the petunias. You can raise it and see what emerges.
¶ Posted 07 September 2004 § ‡ ° Is this a picture of a Tomato bug? (The one on the right) We found it in the yard and have not checked if anymore exist in the garden.
Thanks Tina
Your tomatoes are safe Tina,
You have a photo of a Polyphemus Moth caterpillar. Caterpillars eat the leaves of many different trees, including chestnut, elm, hickory, maple, poplar, sycamore, alder, basswood, and beech. Adults, named for the Cyclops because of their eyespots, do not eat.
caterpillar ID
Hi, we need a little help identifying this caterpillar. We found it moseying across our driveway this afternoon (we live in mid-Missouri). My daughter wants to keep it to see it transform, but I told her we can’t unless we can find out what it is and what it needs to eat! thanks for any help,
Ramona
Hi Ramona,
You have one of the Prominent Caterpillars, probably from the genus Heterocampa. They have a distinct saddle pattern on the back which your photo illustrates nicely. There is some variability in coloration. I would recommend looking at the site Caterpillars of the Eastern Forests. If I were to try an exact identification, I would say the Oblique Heterocampa (Heterocampa obliqua) . The caterpillar feeds on oak.
Can you id this guy?
Dear Bugman,
Found this critter near the bank of the Potomac River in Brunswick, Maryland on August 5th. He was about an inch and a half to two inches long and he was moving pretty fast. Thanks.
Regards, Harvey
Hi Harvey,
At first we thought you had a Tiger Moth, or a Tussock Moth caterpillar, but now we believe this is an American Dagger Moth, Acronicta americana, one of the Noctuids or Owlet Moths. It feeds on Maple and other hardwood forest tree leaves.
Name that Bug
Hi! I found your site while web searching for the identity of this little critter. He’s easily 5 inches long and we found him in the back yard in eastern PA near NewHope getting ready for a family picnic. I’ll send you a second picture of the full bug.
We have been waiting for the photos of the Hickory Horned Devils, caterpillars of the Royal Walnut Moth, Citheronia regalis, to arrive. This is America’s largest caterpillar, and although fierce looking, it is harmless. It feeds on the leaves of trees like Walnut, Hickory and Persimmon. In the fall, the caterpillar leaves the tops of the trees and climbs to the ground where it will dig and pupate, emerging as an adult moth in the spring. We hope you are releasing your captive.
What kind is it?
Just wanted to know what kind of caterpillar this is. I live in Harford Co., Maryland. My husband found it on a green Japanese maple tree. It had already eaten a few limbs. Not sure if its a moth or butterfly. Thanks,
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
The spines of the Io Moth, Automeris io, caterpillar are mildly poisonous. It is easily recognized because of the red and white stripes. The adult moths have eyespots on their underwings. They are small Silkworm moths, the male with yellow upper wings and female with brownish upper wings. They are sometimes found on corn and other garden crops.
green caterpillar
Bugman,
We found this caterpillar in the yard today and would like to know what type it is. We live in Lafayette, Colorado, near Boulder. We’d like to try to keep this guy in a terrarium for a while, any suggestions?
Thanks, the Heggestads.
Dear Heggestads,
I was unsure exactly what your caterpillar was, but I thought I would try searching what I was assuming was the host plant, the poplar tree. I concluded that you have a Big Poplar Sphinx Caterpillar, Pachysphinx modesta. Here is a site entitled Caterpillars of the Eastern Forests, with a pretty good photo. I would recommend keeping several inches of damp, not wet, soil in the bottom of the terrarium for the caterpillar to dig into when pupation time occurs.
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