Moth Caterpillars

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Butterfly Page | Back to Jeff's Misc. Invertebrates Page | Back to Jeff's Nature Pages

Thanks to many folks who have helped me ID some of the creatures on this page, including Anurag Agrawal, John & Jane Balaban, Cheri Cameron, Pat Coin, Steve Hall, Josh Rose, and Steve & Dean.

Slug Caterpillars (Limacodidae)

	CAUTION: STINGING HAIRS!! Saddleback Caterpillar (Acharia stimulea, Sibine stimulea) I found this caterpillar after feeling a painful sting on my hand while walking through a forest understory. It was using Sweetgum (Liqidambar styraciflua) as a host plant. Orange Co., NC 9/7/2005
	CAUTION: STINGING HAIRS!! Saddleback Caterpillar (Acharia stimulea, Sibine stimulea) Durham Co., NC 3 Sep 2008 On Red Hickory (Carya ovalis).
	Saddleback Caterpillar (Acharia stimulea, Sibine stimulea) Durham Co., NC 3 Sep 2008 On Red Hickory (Carya ovalis).
	Saddleback Caterpillar (Acharia stimulea, Sibine stimulea) Durham Co., NC 3 Sep 2008 On Red Hickory (Carya ovalis).

	Skiff Moth (Prolimacodes badia) Using Winged Elm (Ulmus alata) as host plant Orange Co., NC 9/23/2004
	same individual Note the head is totally buried under and protected by the thorax

	Two-tailed Slug Moth (Adoneta bicaudata) Riparian forest in Orange Co., NC 29 Sep 2008 Found on Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata).
	Two-tailed Slug Moth (Adoneta bicaudata) Riparian forest in Orange Co., NC 29 Sep 2008 Spines are reported to carry mild venom.
	Two-tailed Slug Moth (Adoneta bicaudata) Riparian forest in Orange Co., NC 29 Sep 2008

Puss Caterpillars (Megalopygidae)

CAUTION: STINGING HAIRS!!

Crinkled Flannel Moth, Black-waved Flannel Moth (Lagoa crispata = Megalopyge crispata)
Craven Co., NC
27 Aug 2006

Early instars are pure white, while later instars become more orange-gray (see below)

Flannel Moth Caterpillar (Megalopyge sp.)

CAUTION: STINGING HAIRS!!

Crinkled Flannel Moth, Black-waved Flannel Moth Caterpillar, probably (Lagoa crispata = Megalopyge crispata)

Craven Co., NC 8/28/2005

Note that the hairs you see are not the ones that sting, but they are covering some nasty stinging spines underneath!

CAUTION: STINGING HAIRS!!

Crinkled Flannel Moth, Black-waved Flannel Moth Caterpillar (Lagoa crispata = Megalopyge crispata)

Craven Co., NC 8/28/2005

Tussock Moth Caterpillars (in part) (Lymantriidae)

	Variable Tussock Moth (Dasychira vagans) Wake Co., NC 25 May 2008
	Variable Tussock Moth (Dasychira vagans) Wake Co., NC 25 May 2008

Hornworms = Sphinx Moth Caterpillars (Sphingidae)

	Pawpaw Sphinx (Dolbe hyloeus) Pine forest in Orange Co., NC 4 Sep 2009 Fairly common in the eastern US, this individual was feeding on Possumhaw (Ilex decidua).
	Pawpaw Sphinx (Dolbe hyloeus) Pine forest in Orange Co., NC 4 Sep 2009
	Banded Sphinx Caterpillar (Eumorpha fasciata) Richmond Co., NC 7 Oct 2007 Fifth instar feeding on Anglestem Primrose-Willow (Ludwigia leptocarpa).
	Banded Sphinx Caterpillar (Eumorpha fasciata) Richmond Co., NC 7 Oct 2007
	Banded Sphinx Caterpillar (Eumorpha fasciata) Richmond Co., NC 7 Oct 2007 Probably a second instar (much younger) individual.

Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar (Xylophanes tersa)

Hoke Co., NC 9/12/2004

Click to see the Tersa Sphinx Moth this caterpillars becomes>

	Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar (Xylophanes tersa) Durham Co., NC 9/16/2005
	same individual

How's this for a face?

	Tobacco Hornworm (Manduca sexta) 9/16/2005 Despite the common name, this hornworm is often found eating tomato plants (as well as horse-nettles, nightshades, and other members of the tomato/potato family (Solanaceae).
	Tobacco Hornworm (Manduca sexta) parasitized by braconid wasps 9/16/2005

Tiger Moth Caterpillars & kin (Arctiidae)

	Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata) Mt. Mitchell State Park, Yancy Co., NC 13 Sep 2008 Found coast to coast in Canada & the northern tier of US states, there is a disjunct population that also occurs in the high mountains of North Carolina, presumed left over from glacial times!
	Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata) Mt. Mitchell State Park, Yancy Co., NC 13 Sep 2008 This caterpillar feeds on various woody shrubs.
	Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata) Mt. Mitchell State Park, Yancy Co., NC 13 Sep 2008

	Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) Clay Co., NC 13 May 2006 Widespread in forested habitats, Giant Leopard Moth caterpillars eat a variety of plants.
	Yellow Bear Caterpillar, Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica) Granville Co., NC 10 Sep 2006 Common and widespread in NC on shrubs & various wildflower, the Yellow Bear is highly variable from creamy yellow to burnt orange. This is a young individual.
	Yellow Bear Caterpillar, Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica) Granville Co., NC 10 Sep 2006
	Yellow Bear Caterpillar, Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica) Granville Co., NC 10 Sep 2006 This Yellow Bear is much older than the one above.

Tent Caterpillars (Lasiocampidae)

Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)

Orange Co., NC 5/2/2006

Prominents (Notodontidae)

	Contracted Datana (Datana contracta) Orange Co., NC 8 Sep 2008 On Black Oak (Quercus velutina).
	Spotted Datana (Datana perspicua) Durham Co., NC 6 Sep 2008 On Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata).
	Spotted Datana (Datana perspicua) Durham Co., NC 6 Sep 2008 On Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata).

	Double-toothed Prominent (Nerice bidentata) Orange Co., NC 5/2/2006
	Double-toothed Prominent (Nerice bidentata) Orange Co., NC 5/2/2006

	probably Variable Oakleaf Prominent, Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar (Lochmaeus manteo) #5742 Orange Co., NC 2 Oct 2006
	probably Variable Oakleaf Prominent, Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar (Lochmaeus manteo) Orange Co., NC 14 Oct 2006 This is the same species as above but a different individual.

Silkworms and Royal Moth Caterpillars (Saturniidae)

CAUTION: STINGING HAIRS!!

Io Moth (Automeris io) caterpillar
Mixed pine - hardwood forest in Orange Co., NC
21 Sep 2009

Click here for more photo and information on Io Moths.

	Hickory Horned Devil (Citheronia regalis) Orange Co., NC 7/21/2004 The HUGE caterpillars form their pupa underground.
	Hickory Horned Devil (Citheronia regalis) Orange Co., NC 7/21/2004 Despite their menacing appearance, Hickory Horned Devils are harmless to humans.

	Imperial Moth caterpillar (Eacles imperialis) Orange Co., NC 9/23/2004
	Imperial Moth caterpillar (Eacles imperialis) Orange Co., NC 9/23/2004

Green-striped Mapleworm = Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)

Quebec, Canada 8/6/2005

Luna Moth (Actias luna), 2nd instar
Click here to see an adult

	Luna Moth (Actias luna), 3rd instar Click here to see an adult Luna Moth
	Luna Moth (Actias luna) Orange Co., NC 15 Sep 2006 Normally bright green, Luna Moth caterpillars may turn brownish right before pupation
	Luna Moth (Actias luna) Orange Co., NC 15 Sep 2006
	Luna Moth (Actias luna) Orange Co., NC 15 Sep 2006

Pantheas and Yellowhorns (Pantheidae)

The Laugher (Charadra deridens)

Ontario, Canada 8/7/2005

Zales, Underwings (Noctuidae > Catocalinae)

	Curve-lined Owlet (Phypropus callitrichoides) Brunswick Co., NC 4 Oct 2008 On Smilax, one of the coolest caterpillars I've ever seen!

Wormwoods, Sharks, Owlets (Noctuidae > Cuculliinae)

	Brown-hooded Owlet (Cucullia convexipennis) Quebec, Canada 8/6/2005 Fairly common from Canada to the Carolinas, Brown-hooded Owlets feed on flowers in the Asteraceae.
	Brown-hooded Owlet (Cucullia convexipennis) Quebec, Canada 8/6/2005

Flower Moths (Noctuidae > Hadeninae/Xyleninae)

	probably a Striped Garden Caterpillar (Trichordestra legitima) #5781 Orange Co., NC 15 Oct 2006
	possibly a Southern Armyworm (Spodoptera eridania) #1750 Clay Co., NC 13 May 2006 Thanks to Stephanie DePoma for the suggestion!
	possibly a Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 16 Sep 2007 Hundreds of these were seen along the newly exposed mudflats with grassy vegetation along the edge of the lake.
	possibly a Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 16 Sep 2007
	possibly a Yellow Striped Armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli), #5044 Durham Co., NC 24 July 2005 Thanks to Steve Nanz for the ID suggestion!

Flower Moths (Noctuidae > Heliothinae)

	Tobacco Budworm (Heliothis virescens) Chatham Co., NC 9/17/2005 On Verbena
	Tobacco Budworm (Heliothis virescens) Chatham Co., NC 9/17/2005
	Tobacco Budworm (Heliothis virescens) Chatham Co., NC 9/17/2005
	Tobacco Budworm (Heliothis virescens) Chatham Co., NC 9/17/2005

Perhaps this is another Flower Moth species?
Buncombe Co., NC
8 July 2006

Inchworms, Loopers, Spanworms (Geometridae)

	Camouflaged Looper (Synchlora aerata) Durham Co., NC 8/5/2006 One of the few caterpillars that attaches bits of flowers and other plant parts to its body for camouflage!
	Camouflaged Looper (Synchlora aerata) Orange Co., NC 8/2/2005 Another individual. Note its head and true legs are visible in the lower right.
	Camouflaged Looper (Synchlora aerata) Orange Co., NC 8/2/2005 dorsal view

	#2945 One of the twig mimic loopers Pine forest with a few hardwoods in Orange Co., NC 6 Mar 2008
	#2945 One of the twig mimic loopers Pine forest with a few hardwoods in Orange Co., NC 6 Mar 2008

Unidentified Caterpillars

	unidentified caterpillar #0966, possibly a buck moth, Haploa, or even a nymphalid? Orange Co., NC 25 Apr 2006
	unidentified caterpillar #0966, possibly a buck moth, Haploa, or a nymphalid? Orange Co., NC 25 Apr 2006
	#5779, Perhaps a Yellow-collared Scape Moth (Cisseps fulvicollis) or a Salt Marsh Caterpillar (Estigmene acrea)? New Hanover Co., NC 8/27/2005
	Perhaps a different Yellow-collared Scape Moth #5300 Reserva Faunuique Mastigouche, Quebec, Canada 5 Aug 2005
	Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa, Canada 7 Aug 2005

	unidentified caterpillar #6371 Chatham Co., NC 9/24/2005
	same as above
	Is this an Imperial Moth, a Tiger Moth, or something else?? #3761 Orange Co., NC 27 May 2005

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Created on ... October 15, 2005 | jspippen@duke.edu