strange little creature, moves like slug, orange color, appears to looks kind of fuzzy
September 4, 2009
While outside earlier I had bent down to pick something up, and out of the corner of my eye. I saw something fall. I looked over and it appeared as if a bloom had fallen off of an Indian Jewelweed…until I saw it moving! It had landed on top of a little stone, so my hubby picked it up (while it was on the stone) so I could get a couple of pictures of it. If anyone has any idea what this is, I’d really like to know. As I mentioned in the subject line, it is an orage color, and when looking at it in the pics, it appears to look ‘fuzzy’ ~ it’s movement is much like that of a slug because it seems to ‘suction’ to things and crawl across. if by chance you know what this is, how could we care for it here for a few days? My daughter is in the 11th grade and has just started her ‘Zoology’ class ~ she’d love to take it in to show her teacher! (It’s Labor Day weeked, so school won’t be in session for three days.) We don’t want to harm it in anyway…it is so very interesting. Any help is much appreciated! Thank you.
Barbara M.
Fayette County, WV
Monkey Slug Caterpillar
Dear Barbara,
Handle this Monkey Slug Caterpillar, Phobetron pithecium, with care. It is not an aggressive species, but careless handling might cause skin contact with the stinging hairs. The Monkey Slug Caterpillar is the larval form of the Hag Moth and you may read more on BugGuide which indicates: “Larvae feed on broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including oaks, cherries.“
Well, who knew? Not I! Thank you so much for answering my question, I had never seen anything quite like that before! Thanks, also, for the link you sent and informing that it stings! Have a wonderful weekend!
Barbara
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.
rss
I like This
