Red caterpillar
September 30, 2009
Hi Bugman!
I found this in my field in north central Ohio this afternoon on a weed (goldenrod I think). It was a chilly day and it wasn’t moving at all. I’ve looked through my insect guides and on the web to try to identify it, but no luck. Do you know what it is?
Kirsten
Mt. Gilead Ohio
The Asteroid
Hi Kirsten,
WE just love it when caterpillars have poetically descriptive common names, like the Monkey Slug, the Hickory Horned Devil, or the Orange Dog. Your caterpillar is a first for us. We thought it resembled the Brown Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar, so we searched the genus Cucullia on BugGuide. We quickly located The Asteroid, Cucullia asteroides, more commonly called the Goldenrod Hooded Owlet. The caterpillars are highly variable, and there are no images posted to BugGuide that exactly match your specimen, but the coloration is represented in several images from New Hampshire. The caterpillars are described on BugGuide as: “Caterpillar: ‘Usually bright green or brown with yellow, black and white striping, but exceedingly variable…mid-dorsal stripe yellow, often narrowly edged with white, occasionally flanked by variously developed black subdorsal stripe. If subdorsal is absent, then five or six black pinstripes above level of spiracles.’ – Wagner p. 388(1) Base color may also be tan, or purple and brown, especially in later instars.” Your lovely red specimen lacks the dorsal stripe, and has that awesome yellow racing stripe up the side. BugGuide also indicates: “There has been significant discussion whether all these are the same species of Cucullia or not. Seems as though there may be several species that look very similar as larvae. See Also Cucullia postera, C.omissa, C. florea are likely to have similar caterpillars, according to Wagner.”
Thank you so much for taking the time to identify my caterpillar. When I took the picture I thought it was so distinctive that it would be easy to identify. Ha! I’ve spent a lot of time on your site in the past few days and it’s awesome! Thanks again!
Caterpillar (red, black, white, yellow)
September 28, 2009
Can you please identify this caterpillar? It was photographed near Lake Tizlit in the High Atlas Mountains of central Morocco. The nearest village is Imilchil where my daughter works as a Peace Corps volunteer. This is in “her” national park. The photo was made in later June in semi-arid conditions. It is perhaps 10 cm long.
Tom Fuller
Morocco
Barbary Spurge Hawkmoth Caterpillar
Hi Tom,
This caterpillar reminded us of the caterpillars of the Sphinx Moths in the genus Hyles, so we searched Hyles and Morocco, and quickly arrived at a page for the Barbary Spurge Hawkmoth, Hyles tithymali mauretanica. Your caterpillar looks very similar to the ones pictured in the photo on that page, but with slight color differences. The website also has this note: “(Taxonomic note. de Freina (1994) placed mauretanica as a subspecies of H. euphorbiae on the basis of minor morphological and behavioural differences, overlooking the many more characteristics that mauretanica has in common with tithymali.)” Upon following the link to Hyles euphorbiae, the Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth, the new page has photos of numerous color variations of the larvae which are called polymorphic.
Hi Daniel,
I am dazzled by your speed and research. From the description of the habitat (desert/steppe) and range (Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco), this much be the one. I note (as you did) the slight variation in coloring (red line for yellow line, etc.) but it must be a cousin. Thanks much for offering such a service online. I posted the picture on Flickr and gave you credit for the identification:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomfuller2001/
Tom
What on earth is this?
September 28, 2009
While moving, my friends found this on a cardboard box that had been sitting, undisturbed in a storage room for over a year. It reacted only slightly to being touched, but when a lighter was held a few inches away from, the pustule looking things started to swell and it lifted up a few of its legs (arms?). They’ve left it alone since, except for calling me to take some pictures. In a 24 hour period it’s moved about 4 inches across the top of the box, though rarely moves at all when we’ve been looking at it. We live in southcentral Oklahoma, and the weather has been very hot for months, so the closed off storage room it was in, was very warm, and moderately humid.
curious okie
south central Oklahoma
Monkey Slug
Dear curious okie,
This is a Monkey Slug, the caterpillar of the Hag Moth, Phobetron pithecium. It is one of the Stinging Slug Caterpillars in the family Limacodidae, and it should be handled with caution.
Stinging slug caterpillar??
September 28, 2009
Hi,
I live in Malaysia and I found this caterpillar under a leaf in my garden. I’ve checked through you website and the closest one that I can find is the stinging slug caterpillar. Could this be a stinging slug caterpillar? Thanx…
-arina-
Malaysia
Stinging Slug Caterpillar
Hi arina,
You are correct. This is a Stinging Slug Caterpillar, but we are uncertain of the exact species.
Stinging Slug Caterpillar
Update from Karl
Daniel:
It is a stinging slug caterpillar and it looks very much like the Blue-striped nettle grub, Parasa lepida (Limacodidae). If that isn’t it it, it must be something closely related. P. lepida is apparently quite common throughout south and southeast Asia, but occurs from Africa to Papua New Guinea and as far north as Japan. Some or all occurrences outside of south and southeast Asia may be unwanted introductions. They are considered a serious agricultural pest wherever they occur, including on palms, rambutan, mango, banana, rubber and tea. And yes, they can inflict a painful sting if touched. The appearance of the larvae varies somewhat by location and stage of development (the blue stripe appears in the third instar), but Arina’s caterpillar looks very similar to the ones posted at http://www.malaeng.com/blog/tmp/2009/09/limacodid1.jpg and http://www.malaeng.com/webboard/index.php?topic=1199.0. Regards.
Karl
medium butterfly laying eggs on bean plant
September 25, 2009
I discovered this butterfly laying eggs on the two varieties of beans I have growing, a bush type and vine type. The bush type is planted next to a square of soy beans.
The insect is approximately 2 inches wide and their flight pattern is sporadic and jittery with a distinct blue color on her fuzzy bottom, with multi colored through primarily brown wings. I only got a good look while she was laying her eggs, perched on a bean leaf leaving behind a stack on pale yellow eggs (pin head size) on the underside of the leaf. I have found these stacks on the top, bottom, and sides of bush leaves.
Upon further investigation of the plants I discovered many catepillars or larvae nestled in leaf fold cocoons. These are also pictured they are yellow with dark (almost black) heads, two ‘big’ red eyes and tiny necks, tiny black feet closest to the head and yellow orange feet toward end, the larvae/catepillar is yellow in color and has an orange tinge at the rear.
I have included photos though I did not get a wing spread shot. In these you can see the eggs, larvae/catepillar, and butterfly resting on a bean leaf.
betty marie
Sarsota, Florida zone 9/10 for gardening
Long-Tailed Skipper laying Eggs
Hi betty marie,
We applaud your powers of observation. You have photographed a Long-Tailed Skipper, Urbanus proteus. We are thrilled to have the photos of the egg laying process as well as the caterpillars. As your letter supports, the food for the caterpillar includes plants in the pea family. BugGuide has some wonderful images of this lovely species.
Long-Tailed Skipper Caterpillar
Need Caterpillar ID
September 25, 2009
Could you please identify this caterpillar? It was found on a Willow tree this week (September 2009), in Los Angeles, CA. It measures aprox. 1.5 inches long.
S Logan, Los Angeles CA
Los Angeles CA
One Eyed Sphinx Caterpillar
Dear S Logan,
What a nice find. This is a One Eyed Sphinx or Cerisy’s Sphinx Caterpillar, Smerinthus cerisyi. Bill Oehlke’s Sphingidae of the United States website has images of the adult moth as well as other stages of development. This is a wide ranging species in North America. In addition to willow, the larvae also feed on poplar.
Caterpillar found in blueberry bushes
September 23, 2009
I found this caterpillar taking a ride on my son’s shirt during an early morning of blueberry picking. I took its picture on my finger to show the size, and then we happily set it back onto a blueberry bush. I can’t find an identification for it. Thank you!
Nichole
Michigan (Ann Arbor area) in the summer (end of August)
Unicorn Caterpillar, or imposter???
Hi Nichole,
Interestingly, we just finished posting another photo of a Unicorn Caterpillar, or False Unicorn Caterpillar from the genus Schizura. Your photo with the translucent talon, we mean fingernail, is awesome.
Unicorn Caterpillar? or False Unicorn Caterpillar??
Yellow caterpillar
September 21, 2009
Once again I need your help! In June I was hiking through Zion National Park in Utah and saw this little yellow caterpillar in a Prince’s Plume flower. I have searched high and low through Caterpillars in the Field and Garden and cannot find this little guy (or gal).
I’m also including this awesome picture of a black widow I took last friday. She was posing beautifully and thought I’d share it.
Thank you for always coming through and helping me!
Holly
Zion National Park, Utah
Becker's White Caterpillar from Utah
Hi Holly,
Sadly, we don’t recognize your caterpillar, and we are a bit pressed for time, so we cannot immediately research this. We are posting your letter and photo in the hope that that one of our readers might assist you. Since the range of the Prince’s Plume Flower, Stanleya pinnata, is listed as Southern Utah, we expect that the caterpillar might be relatively easy to identify if it is associated with the plant. Here is more information on the Prince’s Plume Flower.
Update:
Thanks to Karl’s comment, we now know that this is a Becker’s White (Pontia beckerii) caterpillar (family Pieridae).
Update from Keith Wolfe
September 26, 2009
Hi Daniel,
Hello Holly,
For more excellent Utah photos of the Becker’s White:
http://www.wildutah.us/h_b_pontia_beckeri_immatures.html
In California, where I live, this species also utilizes Bladderpod (Isomeris arborea, family Cleomaceae), and similar to other butterflies whose larvae feed on plant inflorescences, it completes development in relatively few days (egg 3, caterpillar 14, chrysalis 6).
Best wishes,
Keith Wolfe
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Posted 24 September 2009
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Caterpillar on Western Redbud
September 21, 2009
Caterpillar on Western Redbud
2 feeding this afternoon in the hot California sun
J serences
Carmichael CA Central Valley
Red Hump Caterpillar
Hi J,
We believe this to be a Red Hump Caterpillar, Schizura concinna, a species of Prominent Moth. The caterpillars, according to BugGuide: “feed on a wide range of woody plants.“
Unicorn Caterpillar
September 23, 2009
Was walking with the 2 year old in the swamp park in Southern Illinois today and found a strange looking caterpillar. Some research has it as a Schizura unicornis (I think…do they eat oak?).
The camouflage was strikingly good from some angles, the green “window” in its mid-section is exactly as translucent as leaves with the sun behind them.
Thought you might like some pictures.
Bert in Illinois
Southern Illinois
Possibly Unicorn Caterpillar
Dear Bert,
BugGuide lists the food plants of the Unicorn Caterpillar as: “alder, apple, Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides), White Birch (Betula papyrifera), elm, hawthorn, hickory, willow“, while the closely related and similar looking Morning Glory Prominent or False Unicorn Caterpillar has its food plants listed as: “leaves of beech, birch, elm, maple, morning-glory, oak, rose, and other woody plants” on BugGuide. We would entertain the possibility that the list of plants for the Unicorn Caterpillar might be incomplete, and that your caterpillar might be either species.
Heliothis virescens
September 22, 2009
Hi,
Well, the yard has exploded with moths, butterflies and caterpillars – counted 11 black swallowtail cats on the dill and parsley, with countless eggs still to hatch, and found 2 empty chrysallises on the porch rail and landscape timbers in the yard. The snaps are full of Buckeye caterpillars which go nicely with the Buckeye flag hanging from the porch (it’s football!! Go Bucks!!) While inspecting the dill, I found this pink striped caterpillar on the Russian sage that’s planted next to the dill (and under the Ohio State flag). It’s been at least 3 days of searching but I think this comes close to BugGuide’s Tobacco Budworm – the description says it tends to take on the color of the plant it’s eating. It was also getting close to sunset, so the light and the flowers on the Russian sage really helped hide this one. Please feel free to correct the ID – I think we’ve looked at over 8 million pictures of pink caterpillars since Saturday night. Thanks!
Kathleen Haines
Newport News, VA (southeastern VA)
Tobacco Budworm??
Dear Kathleen,
We love the enthusiasm in the tone of your letter. This looks like it may be a Tobacco Budworm, but we are not certain. We will post your letter and image and link to the BugGuide page on the species in the hopes that an expert can provide some input.
Tobacco Budworm??
Daniel,
Thanks so much! I’d actually already been to your site before going to my email and was delighted to see the pictures already there. You all are terrific and do such a good job!
My daughter is an elementary school art teacher and brought her school’s science teacher over yesterday to “harvest” some caterpillars from the yard. They took 3 or 4 black swallowtail caterpillars, then went to the local garden center and picked up a few dill plants and are hoping to be able to follow the caterpillar to butterfly saga all the way through. They also found a fuzzy tan caterpillar out on the green cones – the guy looks like he needs a serious day with a hairstylist – that we’re working on identifying. And this morning, the snaps were covered with at least a dozen Common Buckeye caterpillars. It’s all just a great reward for planting for butterflies!
Thanks again for your great site and all the good work you do.
Kathy Haines
Southeastern Virginia
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