Subject: What caterpillar is this?
Geographic location of the bug: Tucson, AZ
Date: 08/15/2018
Time: 12:45 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Can you please tell me what kind of Caterpillar this is? It is on top of my buckhorn cholla plant.
How you want your letter signed: Maureen C.
Dear Maureen,
Thanks so much for letting us know you found this Caterpillar on a buckhorn cholla. Often knowing the food plant upon which an insect is found is of tremendous help in making an identification, and it only took us about a minute to find this BugGuide image of a Staghorn Cholla Moth Caterpillar, Euscirrhopterus cosyra. According to BugGuide: “Larvae feed externally on cactus, rather than boring inside like many other cactus-feeders.”
Thank you Daniel! I would have never figured this out. I’m new to Arizona and have never seen anything like this.
It is a fascinating looking caterpillar! Thank you again for your help.
Maureen