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Oleander Hawkmoth Caterpillars from Hawaii

Help to identify this moth larva please
Location: Maui Hawaii
April 12, 2011 9:37 pm
Aloha, in late March I found that three of these larva had consumed a large gardenia plant in one night. I believe that it is a Sphinx larva, but unsure which. Thanks
Signature: Jim

oleander hawkmoth cat jim 300x206 Oleander Hawkmoth Caterpillars from Hawaii

Oleander Hawkmoth Caterpillar

Hi Jim,
This is an Oleander Hawkmoth Caterpillar, an species introduced to Hawaii from the Mediterranean region.  The range of this species has increased with the cultivation of oleander in other regions.  Gardenia is a minor food plant.  The best place to try to identify Sphinx Moths from Hawaii and elsewhere is the Sphingidae of the Americas website.

oleander hawkmoth cat jim 2 300x277 Oleander Hawkmoth Caterpillars from Hawaii

Oleander Hawkmoth Caterpillar

Posted 12 April 2011 § Hornworms ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Unidentified Sphinx Caterpillar from Peru

green hornworm in Lima, Peru, South America
Location: south america, Peru
April 8, 2011 12:03 pm
Well, my friend posteed this picture in facebook and said that this is a waxd moth caterpillar, but I think that this is impossible because waxed moth is onkly found in Norht America while this thing is in the south. I think that this is either an archemon sphinix or a satellite sphinix. could you tell me its real name? thanks.
Signature: shi chen

unknown hornworm peru 300x214 Unidentified Sphinx Caterpillar from Peru

Unknown Hornworm

Dear shi chen,
We have not had any luck identifying this Hornworm, however, your best resource will probably be the Sphingidae of the Americas Peru webpage.  We do not believe it is either the Achemon Sphinx nor the Satellite Sphinx.  Can you provide the name of the food plant?

Update
April 15, 2011
An update: my friend told me that he had found three of these kinds of hornworm. Unluckly, 2 of them was gone after he returned few days later and so he only have that worm picture. He did mentioned that the other 2 have white stripes opn them. Also these worms are resting on :an olive tree, a cherimoya tree, and an unkonw green shrub (probably another fruit tree). He also mentioned that the the picture of the wormhorm that I had sent you has faded white stripes. This can be told when the contrast of the picture is risen, which that’s how he did it. This probably means that this some of pillar’s white stripes had faded away after growing to certain size. This is my upadated information. Hope you have luck in identifying the caterpillar. Thanks.
Shi Chen

Posted 10 April 2011 § Hornworms ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged:

Unknown Caterpillar

Caterpillar Mystery
Location: Central Texas (Ft. Hood)
April 9, 2011 8:34 pm
Hello,
I found this caterpillar on a low growing oak species in central Texas.
Any idea what it could be?
Thanks!
Signature: writerwren

caterpillar writerwren 300x188 Unknown Caterpillar

Unidentified Caterpillar

Dear writerwren,
We are not having any luck trying to identify this caterpillar.  It appears that it may have stinging spines.  Perhaps one of our readers will be able to provide an identification.

Posted 10 April 2011 § moth caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Unidentified Caterpillar Infestation in Florida

Caterpillar
Hi I’d like ot know what kind of caterpillar this is…  (Please see attached)
Thanks in advanced!
I live in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA
Nick’s Photography & Video to bugman

unidentified caterpillars nick 300x213 Unidentified Caterpillar Infestation in Florida

Unknown Caterpillars from Florida

Hi Nick,
We have spent considerable time unsuccessfully trying to identify these Caterpillars.  Can you provide any additional information on the sighting, including the plant they were feeding upon or observations on their behavior?

Well I can send u a picture of the tree they are feeding on… there are all over coming down and also dropping out of the tree… they also seem to be using around the truck of the tree as a sleeping haven also even all branches … Also we have a link for you to click on to view what ever talking about…
also the fresh leave are falling from the tree they are half chewed away and they also i c like the stem of the leaves so i have alot of fresh leave from every minute from the tree…They walk very fast!!!
http://homepage.mac.com/nicksphotovideo/Caterpillars/
Thanks
Nick
Daytona Beach, Florida
p.s. I will be also contacting the news on Monday….

Thanks for the additional information Nick.  Having more photos to consider is wonderful.  We suspected that this must be an unusual sighting due to the number of Caterpillars in your photo.

Posted 10 April 2011 § moth caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Unknown Caterpillar

Unknown Caterpillar #2
Location: Gilbert, AZ 85233
April 2, 2011 3:04 am
Hi,
I also found this caterpillar on small flowers in my garden, I’m not sure the flower’s name, and I found it March 30. Gilbert, AZ.
Signature: Lindsey

unknown caterpillar lindsey 300x216 Unknown Caterpillar

Unknown Caterpillar

Dear Lindsey,
Try though we might, we have been unable to identify this Caterpillar.  Perhaps one of our readers will have more luck.  Knowing the food plant might make a difference in our ability to provide a proper identification.

Posted 10 April 2011 § moth caterpillars ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged:

American Lappet Moth Caterpillar

Mystery Caterpillar
Location: Central Texas (Ft Hood Area)
April 9, 2011 8:14 pm
Hello,
I’m a field biologist working in central Texas and I stumble upon a lot of caterpillars during my work.
I found this particular one on a low growing oak species, possibly Shin Oak.
I was wondering if you might know what it is?
Thanks!
Signature: writerwren

lappet cat writerwren 300x206 American Lappet Moth Caterpillar

American Lappet Moth Caterpillar

Dear writerwren,
We took a gamble and did a web search for “caterpillar red stripes” and we quickly identified your American Lappet Moth Caterpillar, Phyllodesma americana, on BugGuide which states:  “Larva: body with blue, black/gray, white, and orange on the back, and densely hairy lobes (lappets) along sides; top of eighth abdominal segment with unpaired hump; when stretched out or alarmed, exposes bright orange band across top of second and third thoracic segments.”  Here is an image on BugGuide that shows the two red stripes.

Posted 09 April 2011 § Tent Caterpillars and Kin ‡ Comments (1) °

Underwing Caterpillar

Caterpillar identification in Georgia
Location: Jackson, Georgia
April 8, 2011 9:01 am
Hi there, love your site!
I live in central Georgia, about midway between Atlanta and Macon. This little fella has been making his way across my deck for the past several days, and I’m fascinated (and becoming somewhat attached to it, I admit). I’ve searched your site pretty thoroughly, and can’t find anything resembling it. He’s very ”scaly” in appearance, about 2.5” long, and he moves so imperceptibly/slowly that I can’t really tell if you’d consider him an spanworm or not. Picture was taken by me this morning, April 8, 2011. Thanks so much!
Signature: Alex

catocala cat alex 300x181 Underwing Caterpillar

Underwing Caterpillar

Hi Alex,
We believe this is the caterpillar of one of the Underwing Moths in the genus Catocala.  Both the caterpillar and adult are masters of camouflage.  The Caterpillars often resemble bark or lichens, and the adults have forewings that blend in with tree bark, but brightly colored underwings that show when the moth takes flight.  A predator will try to find the brightly colored flying insect that blends into the bark when it comes to rest.  We believe your specimen most closely resembles Catocala ilia which is pictured on BugGuide.

Posted 08 April 2011 § Cutworms and Owlet Caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

South African Caterpillar is Grass Skipper

What kind of caterpillar is this?
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
April 3, 2011 12:58 pm
Hi, I’m not very knowledgeable on bugs so I am assuming this is a caterpillar…if it is, what kind is it? Also, would you be able to advise me on which leaves it eats as well?
Thanks Bugman
Signature: Mel

caterpillar south africa mel 300x183 South African Caterpillar is Grass Skipper

Grass Skipper Caterpillar

Hi Mel,
Since receiving your email a few days ago, we have tried unsuccessfully to identify this Caterpillar, which we believe will metamorphose into a butterfly and not a moth.  Our best guesses are perhaps a Skipper Caterpillar in the family Hesperiidae, a Brush Footed Butterfly Caterpillar in the family Nymphalidae, or a member of the family of Sulphurs and Whites, Pieridae.  Since we have not had any luck, we are contacting Keith Wolfe who often identifies butterfly caterpillars for us.  It appears that this Caterpillar is on eucalyptus or gum.  Is that correct?
P.S.  We just noticed that you are requesting information on what it eats.  Perhaps the gum leaves were your attempt to feed this Caterpillar and it was not found there.  Please clarify.

Hi Daniel,
Thanks for your quick reply! I found the caterpillar on a dead leaf of the only tree in the vicinity so I assumed that it ate those leaves, but just wanted to clarify. I have been trying (unsuccessfully) to identify the tree from the leaf that I found. I have attached a scanned image of one of the leaves in case that may help?

Karl provides an ID
Hi Daniel and Mel:
I think this is most likely the late instar caterpillar of a Grass Skipper (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae). It could be a species of Pelopidas, perhaps P. mathias which is one of two species found in South Africa. Another possibility is the genus Borbo which has at least ten representatives in South Africa. I wasn’t able to find any photos of South African Borbo species, but here is one from the Malay Peninsula and one from Australia. Species in both genera are commonly referred to as Swifts. It may also be some other related skipper – there are lots to choose from and many are quite similar. What all members of the subfamily have in common is that they feed on grasses. Some species are generalists but others are quite specific about which grasses they will feed on.  Regards. Karl

Keith Wolfe concurs
Hi Daniel,
This is certainly a skipper larva — definitely not a young nymphalid or pierid, though the latter are somewhat similar in appearance.  I’m away from home and thus my references, so my next email will be to a South African friend for his firsthand opinion.
Best wishes,
Keith

Keith Wolfe clarifies
April 14, 2011
Mel, Daniel, and Karl: Concerning the subject skipper caterpillar, today I received the below reply from André Coetzer, noted South African lepidopterist, herpetologist, and photographer.
“The skipper larva you sent looks like a Gegenes larvae, but seeing as G. niso, G. pumilio and to a lesser extent G. hottentota occurs in Johannesburg, I can’t tell you which one it is.  I’ve only bred G. niso so I have no idea what the other two’s larvae look like.”
Here is more information — http://books.google.com/books?id=rZK-YmT1KZoC&pg=PT413&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&ots=F_CTZgMmDs&sig=ACfU3U1YetTHb_xS8VOEO0nG6iPXdvdEKw&w=685.
Best wishes,
Keith

Posted 06 April 2011 § Skipper Caterpillars ‡ Comments (0) °

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