Subject: Spider & Caterpillar
Geographic location of the bug: SE MN
Date: 09/27/2017
Time: 10:17 PM EDT
I find th spider on my front door last week, summer like temps, 75° F @ 7:45 am. It was about the size of a Kennedy Half Dollar, I got my neighbor to relocate it off my door.
The caterpillar I found outside at work about 2 years ago, late August early September, moderate summer temps. It was too neat and pretty to not take a picture of.
I don’t have any idea what kind either of them are.
How you want your letter signed: Jane
Dear Jane,
Your caterpillar is an American Dagger Moth Caterpillar and you can verify our identification by comparing your image to this BugGuide image. According to BugGuide: “Larvae feed on leaves of alder, ash, birch, elm, hickory, maple, oak, poplar, walnut, willow and other deciduous trees” and “The caterpillar’s hairs can cause skin irritation.” Your spider is a harmless Banded Orbweaver.