question on a caterpillar…
Hi there,
Love the site. Can you help me identify this one? It was in our front yard about a month ago. It measures 4-5 inches long. Biggest caterpillar I’ve encountered here. We had a very wet summer and have found many interesting things this fall including a Texas Brown tarantula (which we have as a pet now!). Thanks!
Penley
Austin Texas
Hi Penley,
This is an Imperial Moth Caterpillar. There are several color variations in addition to the orange coloration in your photo. They might also be green, blue-green, golden or brown. They feed on a on the leaves of variety of deciduous and coniferous trees. Yellow and purple adults do not feed and live but a few days.