Tag: caterpillar
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Question of the Week – Black Swallowtail
What is munching on this dill? This caterpillar is the larval form of the Eastern black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius). This is a beautiful species of butterfly that is common in the Southeast. Host plants for black swallowtails include members of the carrot family (Apiaceae), such as dill, parsley, celery, and fennel, as well as…
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Question of the Week – Armyworm Egg Mass
This week, the question was: What is this on this tomato leaf? This is an armyworm egg mass, possibly from the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua). The beet armyworm is a pest of vegetables across the Southern US. In warm weather, these eggs will hatch in only 2-3 days. Young caterpillars are slow to disperse and…
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Question of the Week – Corn Earworm
This week, the question was: What caterpillar is this that was found boring into a tomato? This is a corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea). This common caterpillar pest is known by other names, including tomato fruitworm, cotton bollworm, and soybean podworm. Corn earworms are considered to be one of the most economically important insect pests in…
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Question of the Week – Imperial Moth
This week, the question was: What will this giant caterpillar become when it grows up? This is the caterpillar of the imperial moth (Eacles imperialis). This is one of our largest moths in the Southeast. The caterpillars feed on the foliage of pines, oaks, maples, sweetgum, and sassafras as they develop. When they are ready…
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Question of the Week – Cabbage Webworm
This week, the question was: There are diamondback moth caterpillars on the right. What is the caterpillar on the left? This is a cabbage webworm. Cabbage webworms feed near the growing points of brassica plants , often damaging the growing points and causing irregular growth. They frequently feed within webs that protect them from natural…
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Question of the Week – Hickory Horned Devil
This week, the question was: What is this wild-looking critter? This is a caterpillar known as the hickory horned devil. The adult is a beautiful moth known as the regal moth (Citheronia regalis), but it is rarely seen due to its nocturnal habit. The hickory horned devil commonly feeds on the leaves of walnut, hickory,…
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Question of the Week – Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
This week, the question was: What is on this citrus leaf? This looks a lot like bird poop, however, it’s just a camouflage tactic of the giant swallowtail caterpillar. This species is often called the “orangedog” as they feed on members of the citrus family throughout their larval stage. They can be a pest to…
