who is this handsome devil?
July 27, 2009
found July 18 2009
near Clearwater British Columbia Canada
df
Clearwater British Columbia Canada
Yellow Banded Day Sphinx
Dear df,
We researched your caterpillar on Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website and we are pretty certain that this is a Yellow Banded Day Sphinx Caterpillar, Proserpinus flavofasciata. As its name implies, the adult moth is diurnal. According to Bill’s website: “The Yellow-banded day sphinx, Proserpinus flavofasciata (Wing span: 39 – 49 mm), flies in Alaska south through British Columbia to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado, and from British Columbia east across southern Canada to Nova Scotia and Maine.“ The website also indicates: “Larvae feed on willow weed (Epilobium) and possibly thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus). Mature larvae pupate and overwinter in burrows dug under stones and other solid objects. The penultimate instar is pale green with a pair of pale, dorsolateral lines running from the head to the base of the short caudal horn. The last instar is brown-black with numerous black dots; caudal horn replaced by a black button surrounded by a white band edged with black.“ The depth of field on your photograph is quite shallow, but the focus on the head and caudal button makes identification easy. We are going to copy Bill on this response so he can add your sighting to the comprehensive data he is compiling.
moth caterpillar
July 24, 2009
Hi-We think this is an Imperial Moth Caterpillar about ready to pupate. Hope you like the image and thanks for all the work you!
KICA maint.
Kiawah Island, SC
Imperial Moth Caterpillar, just prior to pupation
Dear KICA maint.,
Your identification is spot on. This is the only image we have received of a now immobile Imperial Moth Caterpillar just before the molt that will lead to the pupa stage. The outline is already suggesting the shape of the pupa. Generally, before the caterpillar reaches this stage, it has already buried itself as the pupal stage is underground. We are guessing that you either dug up this caterpillar, or that it was unable to bury itself before initiating the pupal molt. Perhaps you even raised the caterpillar in a place that would not facilitate underground pupation. Thanks for sending us this excellent image. You can find more information on the Imperial Moth on BugGuide.
Bullseye caterpillar?
July 23, 2009
Hi Lisa Anne and Daniel, even with this caterpillar’s distinctive markings I am unable to identify it. It was found on the grass stem (cannot say it was feeding) on a prickly pear/sagebrush steppe but near a riparian area.
You are my last, best hope for an i.d. and I have unbounded faith in you!
Thanks in advance.
Dwaine
outskirts of Casper, WY
Juanita Sphinx Caterpillar
Hi Dwaine,
We are thrilled to be able to return a favor since you always send us such awesome butterfly images that are already identified. The markings on your caterpillar are absolutely gorgeous, much like the weaving of a Persian rug. We quickly identified this Juanita Sphinx Caterpillar, Proserpinus juanita, on Bill Oehlke’s awesome website. Most Sphinx Caterpillars are characterized by a caudal horn, giving them the name Hornworm, but this species loses its horn on the molt between the forth and fifth instar according to the images posted by Bill. We are going to copy Bill Oehlke on this reply since your gorgeous caterpillar differs slightly in coloration from the example he has posted. Bill is also compiling comprehensive data on species distribution.
Juanita Sphinx Caterpillar
Very Large Caterpillar
July 20, 2009
I found this caterpillar on a Vitex tree while pruning. I had thought perhaps it was a Poplar Hawk Moth or maybe a Luna Moth caterpillar but, am now unsure after looking at pictures of each.
Brad
Marietta, Ga
Rustic Sphinx Caterpillar
Hi Brad,
Properly identifying Sphinx Caterpillars can be a challenge for us, and it often takes considerable research. Thanks so much for supplying the name of the food plant. We just did a web search of vitex and sphinx and quickly arrived at this Sphinx Caterpillar of Texas page by Bill Oehlke that had a photo of the Rustic Sphinx eating Vitex.
Pink Caterpillar
July 18, 2009
This tiny pink caterpillar moved in inchworm fashion and was particularly interested in the pollen/nectar of my Coreopsis flower. About 3/8″ in length, really tiny.
sankax
Minneapolis, MN
Unknown Pink Inchworm
Dear sankax,
While we cannot tell you the species, this Inchworm or Spanworm is the caterpillar of a moth in the family Geometridae.
What did my son find?
June 20, 2009
My five year old LOVES catepillars and he found this one in Southwest Georgia on a Confederate Jasmine vine. It is about 1.25 inches.
J. Brooks
Southwest Georgia US
Pine Devil Moth Caterpillar
Dear J.,
We wonder by chance if your son raised this caterpillar to see what the adult is. We have been unsuccessful in pinpointing the species, but we have a far-fetched theory. We believe this most resembles the Splendid Royal Moth Caterpillar, Citheronia splendens pictured on BugGuide. There are several subspecies in Mexico and BugGuide lists sightings in Arizona and Florida. You are in south Georgia, and if there is an established population in Florida, it is entirely possible that your caterpillar might be a Splendid Royal Moth Caterpillar. The size you indicate would mean this is not the final instar for the caterpillar, and that it will grow, molt and change appearance before becoming a pupa. We expect that as soon as this is posted, someone will write in with an obvious identification that will make us feel foolish.
Update: with correction by Bill Oehlke
Seems we weren’t too far astray. Bill Oehlke believes this to be a Pine Devil Moth Caterpillar, Citheronia sepulcralis, a member of the same genus.
Daniel,
Citheronnia splendens sinaloensis would be far from natural habitat in Florida or Georgia. I believe it is an early instar of Citheronia sepulcralis.
Bill Oehlke
I think that is what it is!! I found a sightings map and there have been some sighted about 45 miles west and southwest of my location which is Thomasville, GA. There is a Pitch pine behind our house…which is very unusual for this area. Must be where he came from. Can’t wait to tell my son what the caterpillar was. By the way, he did not raise it. We found it and released it. Thanks so much for your help!!! I’m sure we will be contacting you again because he is in the yard daily looking for “bugs”
J
Found in bamboo tree
June 11, 2009
We live in New Orleans and found this caterpillar in a bamboo tree in our backyard. My son put it in a jar and fed it bamboo leaves (we tried other leaves but bamboo was all it ate). After about a week, it wrapped itself in leaves —- like a sleeping bag. That was about 1-1/2 weeks ago. We don’t think it’s dead but we’re not sure how long before it emerges. Is it a moth or a butterfly?
The Hoffs
New Orleans, LA
Io Moth Caterpillar
Dear Hoffs,
This is an Io Moth Caterpillar. The adult moth is a beautiful creature with large eyespots on the lower wings. We have never heard of Io Moth Caterpillars feeding on bamboo. The spines on the Io Moth Caterpillar can sting if the caterpillar is not handled carefully.
snail type bug
July 12, 2009
Can you tell us what this is? Is it a worm; snail; what???
Union county bug finder
Union County, PA
Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
Dear bug finder,
You have found the caterpillar of a Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus. BugGuide has an image of this typically green caterpillar with the same coloration as yours, and there is a comment that judging by the color, it is ready to pupate. BugGuide also indicates: “Caterpillars feed on Sweet Bay (Magnolia virginiana), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Swamp Bay(Persea palustris) and Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera). Adults take nectar from a variety of flowers.“ The adult butterfly is typically a large showing yellow tailed butterfly with black stripes, though there are some dark females.
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