Subject: Bug on dill
Location: Southern Michigan
July 11, 2017 3:57 pm
I found these living on my dill plants, any ideas? They are pretty small, about as long as a grain of rice maybe and so far ive found 3. I live in southeastern michigan. And its summer here right now.
Signature: Thank you
We have not had any luck identifying your caterpillar. The only caterpillars we can find associated with dill in Eastern North America is the Black Swallowtail Caterpillar, and your caterpillar is most definitely not a Black Swallowtail Caterpillar. Your caterpillar does remind us of the Sophora Worm, but they feed on legumes and dill is not a legume. Perhaps one of our readers will recognize this caterpillar.
Ive talked to another girl I know and she said its called a purple carrot seed caterpillar/moth. Ever heard of those?
The Carrot Seed Caterpillar pictured on BugGuide does appear correct. According to BugGuide: “The larvae feed on umbellifers, particularly wild carrot” and “‘Recently introduced into North America (first specimen reported from 2002) and now known from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin’. * (information from – Moth Photographers Group). “