Unknown caterpillar
September 3, 2009
Hi, I found this really weird looking caterpillar in my birch tree. I have never seen anything like it in my life. It is green with 2 sets of horns toward the front of its head and has 1 horn at the end of its body. It blends in with the leaves and has what appears to be a leafs vein running up it’s back. I searched for something like this online and the closest thing I found was the lime hawk moth caterpillar. Is that what this is?
Denise-MA
Massachusetts
Four Horned Sphinx Caterpillar
Dear Denise-MA,
According to Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website, the Four Horned Sphinx, Ceratomia amyntor, is also called the Elm Sphinx, and its food plants include: “Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and cherry (Prunus). There are chocolate-brown to orangey-brown, sometimes with a pinkish tint, and green forms of the larvae. The common names are derived from foodplants (Elm Sphinx) and the structure (Four-horned Sphinx) of the larva.“ We are impressed that you were able to locate this well camouflaged Four Horned Sphinx Caterpillar that matches the leaves of the birch tree so well. We are copying Bill Oehlke on this response so he can add your sighting to the comprehensive data he is compiling on species distribution.
Well Camouflaged Four Horned Sphinx Caterpillar
WHAT IS THIS?
September 1, 2009
PLEASE – TELL ME – ME DOG WANTED TO EAT IT – LOOKED DANGEROUS!
BRANDY
BRICK, NJ 08724
Hickory Horned Devil
Hi BRANDY,
Though it looks quite fierce, the Hickory Horned Devil, the caterpillar of the lovely Royal Walnut Moth, is quite harmless.
Purple and orange caterpillar
September 1, 2009
Hello,
I found this odd little caterpillar on a Black Locust tree near my house in south-western Pennsylvania. I tried searching through books and the internet, hoping to find out what this little guy is with no luck. [S]he is about 2″ long. Hopefully you can help identify the bugger!
Rebecca
Pittsburgh Area, Pennsylvania
Black Spotted Prominent Caterpillar
Dear Rebecca,
We started by searching the Owlet Moth Caterpillars on BugGuide, and then progressed to the Prominent Caterpillars. Eventually we identified your Black Spotted Prominent Caterpillar, Dasylophia anguina, on BugGuide. Distinguishing features according to Craig Biegler on BugGuide include: “the black ’shoulder’ spot, shiny black ‘button’ on A8, raised rear end, elongated anal prolegs.“ The Caterpillars of the Eastern Forests website indicates: “Splendidly rendered in shiny lavender, orange (or red), yellow, and black; both color and pattern variable. Head orange and unmarked. Middorsal and 2 or 3 subdorsal and supraspiracular stripes, these thin, broken, and black; subdorsal stripe orange, broad; spiracular stripe lemon, broad. Eighth abdominal segment with black dorsal button. Subventer with line of raised shiny black spots just above legs. Food: lead plant, locusts, and other legumes. Caterpillar: June to October; apparently 2 generations.”
Black Spotted Prominent Caterpillar
unknown “slug-a-pillar” on blueberry bush
August 31, 2009
Dear bugman,
We found 4 of these critters who have stripped a small blueberry bush of its leaves. Three as you see are orange, black stripe down the middle with a little yellow stripe on the outside of the black. They have fleshy barbs that have bristles on them. No apparent feet. They move by a ripple like a slug and poop like a caterpillar. We were unaware of the underside until we put plastic wrap(with holes)on top of the container and they move across it – but leave no “trail”. The other one is yellow with a middle stripe that isn’t as dark as the orange ones – it looks more brownish red and its underside is orange. The undersides almost appear to suction as they move. We live in the Piedmont of NC, they were found Aug 30th, 2009 a young blueberry plant. What is this critter?
Help appreciated, Donna
Advance, NC
Stinging Rose Caterpillars
Dear Donna,
According to BugGuide, the Stinging Rose Caterpillar, Parasa indetermina, feeds on “apple, cottonwood, dogwood, hickory, oak, redbud, sycamore and rose bushes.“ Thanks to you, we can add blueberry to the list. As the images on BugGuide show, there is considerable variability in the caterpillar coloration and markings. Beware, as the name implies, if incorrectly handled, the Stinging Rose Caterpillar can sting.
Stinging Rose Caterpillar
Scary Caterpillar
August 30, 2009
My daughters and I found this while doing yardwork. My daughter accidentally bumped it while we were taking pictures of it and she said it stung real bad. I did remove what looked like a tiny hairlike stinger! I would love to know what this bug is!
Thanks for your help!!! Debbie
Henderson Kentucky
Saddleback Caterpillar
Hi Debbie,
The Saddleback Caterpillar, Acharia stimulea, in the family Limacodidae is one of the Stinging Slug Caterpillars.
dainty snowflake worm
August 30, 2009
dear bugman,
what is this? it was on my porch.
bug whisperer
Middle Tennessee
Beutenmueller's Slug Moth Caterpillar
Dear bug whisperer,
BugGuide lists Beutenmueller’s Slug Moth Caterpillar, Isochaetes beutenmuelleri, as uncommon. It is also known as the Spun Glass Slug Moth and caterpillars feed on swamp oak leaves. Many of the caterpillars in the Slug Moth Family Limacodidae are capable of stinging, but we are unsure is this species has the stinging spines. Your photo indicates that it probably does.
Aggregating Larvae
August 30, 2009
Don’t have much info other than that these are rather large larvae on a tree in Honduras. Photo taken by a friend of a friend.
Scott
Honduras
Arsenura armida aggregation
Dear Scott,
Over the years, we received similar images four times before we finally identified the Caterpillars as Arsenura armida, a Neotropical Silkmoth that ranges from Mexico to Brazil. Here is a website with information on the caterpillars. The God of Insects website has an image of the adult moth.
caterpillar ID
August 28, 2009
Hello again! I found this amazing caterpillar climbing on a wall more than 100′ from any vegetation. It is ~3″ long, and as you can see will curl into a ball if disturbed. As I discovered, those spines are not for show! I bumped it and got a strong burning/stinging sensation at the site.
Mike
Edgewood New Mexico, 7000′ pinion forest
Zephyr Eyed Silkmoth Caterpillar
Dear Mike,
As we have stated so many times in the past, we haven’t the time to even read all of the emails we receive, and we tend to open emails with subject lines that catch our attention. We had been thinking that we haven’t posted any images of the fabulous Eyed Silkmoth caterpillars from the genus Automeris that have limited ranges in the Southwest. This is the caterpillar of a Zephyr Eyed Silkmoth, Automeris zephyria, and it is only reported from the mountains of New Mexico. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of willows. You can see more images on BugGuide, but nothing as spectacular as the defensive ball your specimen has rolled into. The spines of the Zephyr Eyed Silkmoth Caterpillar are mildly poisonous. You need not fear for your health because of the sting, but the discomfort may last a few days. We are copying Bill Oehlke on this response so he can add you sighting to the comprehensive data he is compiling. We suspect he might also want to post your wonderful photos on his own website.
Zephyr Eyed Silkmoth Caterpillar: Defensive Posture
What is this caterpillar
August 24, 2009
I live in Western Newfoundland. My grandson found the attached caterpillar in his back garden. what abeauty…The “horn” is at the back end. I put is in a container and addedafew shrub leaves which is quickley began to feed on. I’ve since given it its freedom (I may be sorry :O)
Keith P.
Wetsern Newfoundland, Canada
Laurel Sphinx Caterpillar
Hi Keith,
This beautiful caterpillar is a Laurel Sphinx, Sphinx kalmiae. We quickly located it on Bill Oehlke’s awesome website.
Thank you for your prompt reply and interesting literature. It certainly is a very beautiful creature. I’m in deep trouble with my wife if it decides to breed in the garden – we have Lilac L
Keith Piercey
Corner Brook
Hi again Keith,
WE will try to get you off the hook in the interest of preserving your marital bliss. Though a large Sphinx Caterpillar can consume a considerable quantity of leaves, this does not do lasting damage to the plant. By the time your Sphinx Caterpillars appear in a given year, the lilacs have finished blooming. We doubt that there would ever be more than a few Laurel Sphinx Caterpillars on a given lilac. Some moths lay all their eggs in one location, but Sphinx Moths tend to be more selective, and place single eggs on distant leaves.
horned caterpiller
August 24, 2009
Hello,
Some friends and I were taking a walk in Hemlock gorge in Maryland and we came across a very strange caterpiller. It was on a chunk of tree bark which was on top of a large rock in a stream.
Jason
Hemlock Gorge Maryland
Hickory Horned Devil
Hi Jason,
We always enjoy posting the first Hickory Horned Devil photographs of the season, and your photo is neither the first nor the second we received, but it is the most detailed. Thanks for sending us this gorgeous Hickory Horned Devil photograph.
Giant Caterpillar
August 22, 2009
Found in the garden on 12.12.08. Approx 10cm Long and 1.5cm dia.
Can you identify it and tell me what it has by now become? We put it over the wall onto an adjacen vacant plot of land. Haven’t seen any more
Roy
Gurgan, India
Oleander Hawkmoth Hornworm from India
Dear Roy,
This is a Sphinx Moth Caterpillar or Hawkmoth Caterpillar in the family Sphingidae. These caterpillars are often called Hornworms for obvious reasons, and they are harmless. The coloration of your specimen indicates that it was probably getting ready to pupate, which they do underground. We will put in a quick inquiry with Bill Oehlke to see if he recognizes the species, and perhaps one of our readers will write in with a species identification.
Identification courtesy of Karl
August 24, 2009
Hi Daniel and Roy:
This looks like the caterpillar of the Oleander Hawkmoth (Daphnis nerii). It is native to southern Europe, Africa and Asia but is popping up worldwide as its host plant (Oleander) is spread as a popular ornamental. They are apparently well established in Hawaii for instance. The mature larvae are usually green but it does come in a variety of color variations; this is a brown form. The adults are very well represented on WTB and there has been at least one posting of a brown form caterpillar. Regards.
Karl
8 inch black-spiked, green bodied, red horned Dragon Caterpillar
August 17, 2009
I found this huge creature in my Virginia Beach grassed yard.
F. Davis
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Hickory Horned Devil
Dear F. Davis,
Despite the blurriness of your images, the Hickory Horned Devil is immediately recognizable. The Hickory Horned Devil, along with other stunning insects like the Luna Moth and Dobsonfly, always thrill us when we receive the first photos of the season. The Hickory Horned Devil is the caterpillar of the equally stunning Royal Walnut Moth. Though 8 inches is something of an exaggeration, the Hickory Horned Devil is an enormous caterpillar. It is perfectly harmless.
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