Subject: Is this a green striped maple worm?
Geographic location of the bug: Central Florida
Date: 11/13/2017
Time: 07:12 AM EDT
Hi! I was trying to identify this caterpillar and the closest thing I’ve been able to find so far is a rosy maple moth caterpillar. The structure of the caterpillar in question looks right but the color doesn’t quite match what I’m finding online. How much color variation is there in a caterpillar species? Thanks in advance for your attention. I love you guys!
How you want your letter signed: Jenn
Dear Jenn,
Your caterpillar looks similar to the caterpillar of the Rosy Maple Moth, which is pictured on BugGuide, however, your individual is a different species in the same Royal Moth subfamily Ceratocampinae. Your individual is a Pink Striped Oakworm, Anisota virginiensis, a species with three distinct subspecies, that is pictured on BugGuide.