Caterpillar
Location: Australia QLD Redcliffe 4020
December 9, 2011 10:18 pm
Hey guys.
Found this Caterpillar today eating my Orange Tree leaves. Like to know what this is and if it’s a thread to the tree or not.
Michael
Signature: michael from australia redcliffe QLD
Orchard Swallowtail Caterpillar
Dear Michael,
This spectacular caterpillar is that of an Orchard Swallowtail, Papilio aegeus, and we confirmed that identification on the Brisbane Insect website. As you indicated, the caterpillar eats the foliage of orange and other citrus trees, however, the loss of some leaves will not harm the tree appreciably. The red horns at the front of your caterpillar is a scent organ known as the osmeterium. It is normally hidden, but when the caterpillar feels threatened by a predator, the osmeterium is displayed along with an odor that is described as disagreeable.
I don’t have enough band width to search all your caterpillars
Location: Southern shore of Lake Ontario, upstate New York
January 5, 2012 12:40 am
I took this picture of this beautiful creature on one of my feed buckets on August 27th in upstate New York near lake Ontario. I checked on him for three days before he moved on to where ever he wanted to go. I took back the bucket after I checked the bottom to make sure he had not moved to the bottom or under the bucket. I tried to find him on your site but have limited bandwidth and you have A LOT of caterpillars!
Thank you for having a look. 
Signature: Respectfully, Nancy
Tussock Moth Caterpillar
Hi Nancy,
Searching through our extensive archive can be quite daunting if you don’t know where to begin. This is a White Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar, Orhyia leucostigma, a wide ranging species in the entire eastern portion of North America as far west as Texas. The caterpillars feed on a wide variety of trees and shrubs including “apple, birch, black locust, cherry, elm, hackberry, hickory, oak, rose, willow…fir, hemlock, larch, spruce and other conifers” according to BugGuide. You should exert caution handling this caterpillar because contact with the hairs may cause an allergic reaction. Female moths are flightless.
Thank you so much. I will share this information with my facebook
friends who wanted to know as well. And I try to never touch a bug as
they go about their day. I don’t know which parts are fragile and I
don’t want to break them. If in danger I will let them walk on to a
sheet of paper and put them somewhere near that is safer.
Respectfully,
Nancy
1
”pine cone” cocoons in Pennsylvania
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
December 1, 2011 1:37 pm
Dear Bugman,
I noticed these mini pinecone-looking cocoons growing on the back of a stop sign by my work. Could you help me identify what creature created these cocoons? Thank you very much.
Signature: Kyle Helal
Bagworms
Dear Kyle,
You have noticed the cocoons of Bagworms, a family of moths whose caterpillars construct bags from silk and foliage. The caterpillar enlarges the bag as it grows, dragging around its home as it feeds. When it is time to metamorphose, the Bagworm retains its bag to house the pupa. Female Bagworm Moths are flightless and mate in their bags.
1
¶ Posted 02 January 2012 § Bagworm ‡ ° household bug
Location: ireland, dublin – ceiling and under beds
November 30, 2011 3:42 pm
dear mr. bugman
for many years now i have had these white small 1cm size chrysalis hanging from my ceiling and now i have uncovered them under the beds, along with oodles of small black piles…? they seem to like leather and clothing under the beds but i have never seen them produce anything like a moth or worm? can you advise
I do not think them any harm but wonder if they contribute to my asthma and allergies, dust mites etc
Signature: debbie m
Case Bearing Moth Larvae
Dear Debbie,
These are Case Bearing Moth Larvae, a common creature found in homes worldwide. While we do not believe they contribute directly to your asthma, they often feed on organic debris like shed hair from pets as well as people. The accumulation of debris under beds and various other places might be contributing to your asthma, and the Case Bearing Moth Larvae are just symptoms of a pre-existing dust problem in your home.
Case Bearing Moth Larvae
Really interesting! Do you mean the moth lives inside the casing and moves about in it? As I have never seen any moths in the house or anything emerge from them? Are they living and moving about in the white case
Kind regards
Debbie Millington
Hi again Debbie,
The case is spun by the larva and occasionally incorporates sand and debris in its construction. The larva lives in the case. Eventually the larva will pupate in the case. Perhaps they have never had a chance to emerge as tiny adult moths because you have discovered them and cleaned them away. It is possible that Case Bearing Moth Larvae my eat organic fibers and protein, hence being considered Household Pests.
1
rss
I like This
