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Forest Tent Caterpillar

Ed. Note: Please use our official submission form for every photo sent to our website.  The form has the disclaimer about our right to publish your letters and images.  We learned about 8 hours after this image was published that it was not submitted by the photographer.  Since we have no entomologists on staff, many of the images we receive need to be researched.  We are very reluctant to spend valuable time researching the identity of creatures that we will not be able to publish photos of on our site.  We have countless images available to the web browsing public because so many of our readers now have access to wonderful cameras (and cellular telephones that take pretty good photos as well) and we are thrilled to be able to compile them in a haphazardly organized fashion in our voluminous archives.  Though our writing staff tries its best to be bright, witty and charming, we realize that most web browsers want nice images to accompany the information they are trying to research.

Vermont caterpillar??
Hi Daniel,
Wondering if you can tell me what this caterpillar will turn into!!
Thanks, KT
PS…. I had 3 Luna Moths visit me this week, and got some really good pix. Let me know if you’d like any….

forest tent caterpillar kt 300x199 Forest Tent Caterpillar

Forest Tent Caterpillar

Dear KT,
This is a Forest Tent Caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria, and it is found throughout North America including Canada, but it is more common east of the Mississippi River according to BugGuide, where the life cycle is described as:  “One generation per year; larvae spin silken mats on tree trunks and large branches where they congregate to molt or rest from feeding; larvae also deposit silk in strands along which they travel to and from feeding sites; overwinters as larva in masses surrounding tree branches. (Unlike Eastern Tent Caterpillar, this species does not form silken tents.)”.We have no shortage of Luna Moths this year, and we are much happier to have received this particular photo because we promote the diversity of insect life on our website.

Hi again, Daniel,
I was thinking more about the photo, and I can’t imagine my friend will mind that it’s on your site. I took it from her Facebook page, so in a sense, it’s already “public”. I did write to her and sent her your reply to my question. I’m sure she’ll be happy to have the identification.
Go ahead and leave it up on your site, but can you please give photo credit to Jane A. Lindholm? That would be great. I’ll write again if there are any objections on her part.
Thanks!
KT

Hey Daniel,
Just wanted to let you know that Jane wrote to me from Wales. She’s totally fine with her photo being on your site, and was thrilled to DISCOVER your site and to find out what that caterpillar is.
All’s good!
Cool photo of a Cecropia moth my friend Joanne took tonight here in SE Vermont! If by any chance you want to use it, I’ll have her submit it the correct way!
KT

UPDATE:  August 18, 2011
Use of pic for Illinois FFA Forestry contest
August 18, 2011 2:26 pm
Dear Whats That Bug, I am looking for permission to use a few images for use in a FFA forestry contest. The image would be printed once, laminated and used for the contest and for educational purposes only. The pics that I would like to use are at the following url.
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/forest_tent_caterpillar_kt.jpg
Date of the contest is September 20, 2011.
Since the site made me place a pic in the image place, I did! Some sort of flocked insect taken last year while pruning a walnut plantation.
Thank you,
Jim Kirkland
Interim Director
University of Illinois
Illinois Forest Resource Center
jakirk@illinois.edu
Signature: Jim Kirkland

mating periodical cicadas jim 300x230 Forest Tent Caterpillar

Mating Periodical Cicadas

Dear Jim Kirkland,
Please explain how the photo will be used.  It obviously cannot be entered in the contest by anyone but Jane who took the photo.  The photo you attached depicts mating Periodical Cicadas.

Dear Daniel,
The photo (http://www.whatsthatbug.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/forest_tent_caterpillar_kt.jpg ) would be printed on a  letter sized piece of paper, laminated and used as one of ten questions on a high school FFA forestry contest.  The portion of the test is titled Tree/Forest Disorders, the national FFA (Future Farmers of America) organization is the organizer of this event.   The students would have to identify the insect pest out of a list.  I was not looking to get my mating cicadas identified.  The web interface that your site uses would not let me send the question without downloading something.  However, how about checking out the flocked insect I have loaded up today.
Thank you,
Jim Kirkland
University of Illinois
Illinois Forest Resource Center

You have our permission to use the image of that purpose.  Here is a higher resolution file.
Daniel

 

Posted 23 June 2011 § Tent Caterpillars and Kin ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Nevada Buck Moth Caterpillar

What is this bug?
Location: San Diego California
June 21, 2011 11:12 pm
Hi, I was wondering if you could identify this catipillar
Signature: Robert Ramirez

nevada buck moth cat robert 300x231 Nevada Buck Moth Caterpillar

Nevada Buck Moth Caterpillar

Hi Robert,
This is now the third report we have gotten in the past few weeks that there are unusually large numbers of Nevada Buck Moth Caterpillars, Hemileuca nevadensis, in the San Diego area this year.  See here and here for additional photos and information.  Please do not handle Nevada Buck Moth Caterpillars or any related species as the spines can cause a nasty contact dermatitis.

Posted 22 June 2011 § Silkworms ‡ Comments (0) °

Monarch Eggs Hatching

Monarch caterpillar egg (Danaus plexippus)
Location: Naperville, IL
June 21, 2011 8:25 pm
Dear Bugman~
I thought you might like to have these photos I took today of the first of our 2011 Monarch caterpillars. We live in the midst of a prairie preserve with a lot of common milkweed, and we keep a few plants in our front yard for the purpose of raising Monarchs each summer. The one on the right has just hatched and has turned around to begin eating its shell. My photos of it actually hatching were too blurry, as I was in a hurry. The one on the left hatched after I left it, but I will plenty of opportunities for better shots. Best regards.
Signature: Dori Eldridge

monarch egg hatchling dori 300x225 Monarch Eggs Hatching

Hatchling Monarch Caterpillar

Hi Dori,
We are positively thrilled to receive your excellent images of a newly hatched Monarch Caterpillar and a sibling egg about to hatch.  This very nicely rounds out our Monarch Butterfly metamorphosis as we now have all stages of development, though several Caterpillar instars may be missing.  We do have a question about the anatomy of the milkweed.  It appears that buds are just sitting on a leaf, and that they are not properly connected to the plant.  Can you please explain if this was a result of gathering eggs from a different plant.

monarch egg hatchling dori 2 300x225 Monarch Eggs Hatching

Hatchling Monarch Caterpillar

 

Posted 22 June 2011 § brush footed butterfly caterpillars § Eggs ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: ,
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Tread Waisted Wasp preys upon Caterpillar

Solitary Burrowing Hunting Wasp ?
Location: Traverse City, Michigan
June 20, 2011 4:23 pm
I watched this muscular wasp bring in a large larva. It was right at the entrance to it’s burrow on the beach at D H Day Campground, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan, but seemed nervous with me watching. Instead of taking it into the burrow it dragged up up a small plant nearby. With it safely hid, it buzzed me until I backed away.
Do you know the name of this wasp?
Signature: Bill

threadwaist wasp eats caterpillar bill 300x245 Tread Waisted Wasp preys upon Caterpillar

Thread Waisted Wasp preys upon Cutworm

Dear Bill,
The Thread-Waisted Wasps in the genus Ammophila are known to prey upon Cutworms that they use to provision underground nests for their brood.  Of the species represented on BugGuide, we believe your wasp looks the most like Ammophila nigricans.

threadwaisted wasp eats cutworm bill 300x238 Tread Waisted Wasp preys upon Caterpillar

Thread-Waisted Wasp preys upon Cutworm

Posted 20 June 2011 § Cutworms and Owlet Caterpillars § Thread Waisted Wasps ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Black and yellow caterpillar
Location: Ocean County NJ ( south NJ )
June 20, 2011 5:45 pm
Hi Bugman,My daughter found this caterpillar in the green houses where she work at moore’s farm market in Beachwood NJ. Do you know what that is, maybe a swallowtail butterfly? Thanks for your time & knowledge icon smile Black Swallowtail Caterpillar
Signature: Jacqui Moich & family

black swallowtail cat jacqui 300x192 Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Hi Jacqui,
You are correct.  This is a Black Swallowtail Caterpillar.  You can feed it parsley or even the tops of carrots from the grocery store.

Posted 20 June 2011 § swallowtail caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

Catalpa Sphinx Caterpillar

Caterpillar id?
Location: belle vernon, pa
June 16, 2011 2:43 pm
I was just wondering what these caterpillars are and if they’re toxic or not. We have thousands here on a large bush and when I noticed them one struck at me. And my 2 year old son plays around and under the bush and I need to know what I should do.. leave them be or remove the bush?
But still I would love to know what they are because they’re quite beautiful.
Signature: Savannah Chamberlain

catalpa sphinx savannah 300x202 Catalpa Sphinx Caterpillar

Catalpa Sphinx Caterpillar

Hi Savannah,
This is the caterpillar of a Catalpa Sphinx, Ceratomia catalpae.  The excellent Sphingidae of the Americas website does not have any examples of caterpillars with markings like your individual, however, they do state:  “Colouration of mature larvae is somewhat variable, and there appear to be two primary color phases, dark and pale.  In the dark phase, there is a broad, solid black band down the back, bordered by white lines. The sides are yellowish with some black spots and vertical lines.”   BugGuide does have a photo of a Catalpa Sphinx with your coloration.  They are not toxic and they pose no threat.

Posted 20 June 2011 § Hornworms ‡ Comments (0) °

Buck Moth Caterpillar

Hemileuca nevadensis – Nevada Buck Moth Larvae?
Location: Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego County, CA, USA
June 19, 2011 11:58 pm
We found several of these caterpillars feeding on wild Willow trees (Salix lasiandra) along the San Diego river in Mission Trails Regional Park. The caterpillars are venomous and will give a painful red rash if handled. We have had these caterpillars for 2 weeks now at home, they seem to be slow growing and slow to progress to the different instars. I have provided them with fresh Salix every day to feed. I believe they may be some form of Buck Moth but have been unable to find the exact species. These seem to have a brighter color and more mottled (not speckled) coloring than the H. nevadensis but not sure?
Signature: Kind Regards, Christine

buck moth cat christine 300x227 Buck Moth Caterpillar

Buck Moth Caterpillar

Hi Christine,
Thanks for your comments on our previous posting of this Buck Moth Caterpillar and also thank you for submitting your photos.  Bill Oehlke has indicated that despite the color variation, they are Hemileuca nevadensis.  Caterpillars frequently exhibit color variations.

buck moth cat christine 2 300x223 Buck Moth Caterpillar

Buck Moth Caterpillar

Posted 20 June 2011 § Silkworms ‡ Comments (1) °

Underwing Caterpillar

caterpillar curiosity
Location: central Indiana
June 17, 2011 10:12 pm
After checking several web guides, and making it to page 90 of your caterpillar submissions, I decided to try throwing myself on your mercy, O Mighty Bug People! I found this guy as I was attacking my seriously overgrown garden area, pruning down some tree-like plants (I have no idea what plants, sorry!). He blended in so well I nearly cut him in two when I was pruning. I’m located in central Indiana, and found him today, June 17. Any ideas what he might turn into? The closest photographic match I could find was a Malaysian Fruit Piercing Moth Caterpillar, which I have a hard time believing is here in Indiana. He’s 2 1/2 to 3 inches long.
Signature: Cheers, Jamie

underwing cat jamie 300x211 Underwing Caterpillar

Underwing Caterpillar

Hi Jamie,
Your Caterpillar will eventually transform into an Underwing Moth in the genus Catocala.  They are masters of camouflage as both caterpillars and adults.  You may compare your individual to this image on BugGuide.

underwing cat jamie 2 300x168 Underwing Caterpillar

Underwing Caterpillar

Posted 18 June 2011 § Cutworms and Owlet Caterpillars ‡ Comments (1) °

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