Integrated Pest Management CATERPILLARSCATERPILLARS IN YOUR YARD & GARDEN Integrated Pest Management...

CATERPILLARSIN YOUR YARD

& GARDEN

IntegratedPestManagement

Plant Protection ProgramsCollege of Agriculture, Food

and Natural Resources

Published by MU Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia

$3.00 IPM1019

CONTENTS

Life cycle & key morphological features . . .3

Royal moths & silkworm moths . . . . . . . . . . .4

Hornworms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Swallowtails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Tussock moths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Tiger moths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Slug caterpillars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Puss caterpillars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Cutworms, armyworms, underwings & dagger moths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Whites & sulphurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Tent caterpillars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Brush-footed butterflies, fritillaries & wood nymphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Prominents and oakworms . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Loopers & cankerworms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Milkweed butterflies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Skippers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Bagworms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Snout and grass moths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Sawflies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Index of species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

For further information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Authors

Bruce A. BarrettDepartment of EntomologyUniversity of Missouri-Columbia

Mary KroeningDepartment of HorticultureUniversity of Missouri-Columbia

Photo credits

Unless otherwise credited, photographs are fromthe Lee Jenkins Slide Collection, Department ofEntomology, University of Missouri.

On the World Wide Web

Updates to this publication will be posted on theWorld Wide Web at:http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/pests/ipm1019.htm

Production

MU Extension and Agricultural InfomationDale Langford, editorDennis Murphy, designer and illustrator

© 2003 University of Missouri

This publication is part of a series of IPMManuals prepared by the Plant ProtectionPrograms of the University of Missouri. Topicscovered in the series include an introduction toscouting, weed identification and management,plant diseases, and insects of field and horticul-tural crops. These IPM Manuals are availablefrom MU Extension at the following address:

Extension Publications2800 Maguire Blvd.

Columbia, MO 652111-800-292-0969

College ofAgricultureFood andNaturalResources

it is actively feeding and increasing its size andweight at a staggering rate. During this time ofintense feeding activity, the caterpillar will gothrough a series of molts where its exoskeleton orintegument is shed at periodic intervals. Thisallows the caterpillar to grow. Caterpillars willshed their exoskeleton three to nine (typicallyfive) times. Not only will the size of the caterpillarincrease between molts, but the caterpillar’s colorand appearance may also change (usually slightly,but sometimes drastically). At the final molt thecaterpillar develops (pupates) into the nonfeeding,quiescent pupa or “transformation” stage fromwhich the winged adult will eventually emerge.Most butterflies and moths survive the harshwinter months as a full-grown caterpillar or pupa,often within a tough silken cocoon that the cater-pillar spins around itself before it pupates.

The overall body shape of a caterpillar iselongate and cylindrical with a well-developedhead. The mouthparts are of the chewing type.Behind the head is the thorax, a three-segmentedregion (pro-, meso-, and meta-), each segmentcontaining a pair of (true) legs. The abdomen istypically 10-segmented, with a pair of prolegs onsegments 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10. However, the numberof prolegs on sawfly caterpillars is always morethan five pairs. Prolegs are found on the insectonly during the caterpillar stage and are used tohelp the insect hold on to the host plant.Sometimes prominently visible on each side of thecaterpillar’s body, between the meso- andmetathoracic and abdominal segments, are res-piratory openings called spiracles. The surface ofthe caterpillar’s body may be smooth or denselycovered with setae (hairlike projections), or it maybe covered with small to large spines or hornlikeprojections (Figure 1).

Some of the most easily observed insectsin our backyards and gardens are cater-pillars. Because they cannot fly or run

away, we can approach and observe closely thebehavior of these immature insects. Many chil-dren (and adults too) are intrigued by the dis-covery of a caterpillar of unusual size, color orbody shape.

The purpose of this pictorial guide is to pro-vide basic characteristics in identifying many ofthe caterpillars commonly encountered in ouryards and gardens. This information would beparticularly useful to those interested in butterflygardening and conservation. Most of the cater-pillar species described in this manual are notconsidered pests; however, some species maycause serious damage to many tree, shrub, flowerand vegetable plants. University of MissouriExtension publications on the management ofsome of these pest species are referenced in thefollowing pages.

Most commonly encountered cater-pillars are the immature stages ofbutterflies and moths, although

the immature stages of some species of sawflies(primitive, nonstinging wasps) are also caterpillar-like in appearance. Such insects undergo a com-plete metamorphosis, with four general life stages:egg, larva, pupa and adult. The larva (or cater-pillar) stage is often referred to as the “feeding”stage, a period in the insect’s development when

CATERPILLARS INYOUR YARD &GARDEN

LIFE CYCLE & KEYMORPHOLOGICALFEATURES

Thoracic legs Abdominal prolegs

Analprolegs

Mandibles(jaws)

Spiracles

Head Thorax Abdomen

Setae Setae

Figure 1. Caterpillar morphology.

The Saturniidae family includes many ofthe largest and most colorful moths inNorth America and the world. These

large caterpillar species are usually not considered

pests. Although a single individual can consumerelatively large amounts of foliage, their num-bers rarely reach levels that would warrant con-trol. But there are a few species that can do sig-nificant damage to many forest tree species. Uponcompleting their larval development, most sat-urniid caterpillars will pupate in large, toughsilken cocoons usually attached to twigs or leavesor found on the ground. Many species have onlyone generation per year.

Integrated Pest Management4

Royal moths & silkwormmothsFamily Saturniidae

Polyphemusmoth

(Antheraeapolyphemus)

Full-grown caterpillars are nearly 3 incheslong and are bright green with a brown head. Oneach angular body segment are six yellow-orangetubercles with small bristles. On most abdominalsegments a yellow line runs through the brownspiracle and connects the first and second tuber-cles found on each side of the body. Common hostplants include hickory, maple, hazelnut, oak, ash,walnut, sycamore, butternut, willow, elm,hawthorn, basswood and birch.

Polyphemus moth

Hickoryhorned devil

(Citheroniaregalis)

This fierce-looking caterpillar is the imma-ture stage of the regal moth. Full-grown larvae aredull green and can reach lengths of 4 to 5 inches.On the thoracic segments behind the head arelong, stout, orange and black spines or “horns.”The longest of these horns are found on thesecond and third thoracic segments. Six smallerblack spines are found on each abdominal seg-ment. Host plants include hickory, walnut, but-ternut, sumac, persimmon, sweetgum, ash andsycamore.

Hickory horned devil

Imperial moth(Eacles

imperialis)

Present: June–August

Generations per year: 2

The body color varies from light green todark green to reddish brown. Full-grown larvaereach lengths of 4 inches. The head is usuallyyellow-orange. Four short horns are found onthe second and third thoracic segments and on thelast two abdominal segments. The rest of thebody is sparsely covered with long, white hairs.The round-oval spiracles on the sides of eachabdominal segment are conspicuous. They arewhite-yellow outlined in black. Common hostplants include oaks, sweetgum, maple, hickory,sassafras, elm and sycamore.

Imperial moth

Present: May–October

Generations per year:Multiple

Present: July–October


Photo by B

ruce Barrett

Caterpillars in Your Yard and Garden 5

Io moth(Automeris io)

The entire body of this caterpillar is coveredwith clusters of pale green, black-tipped, branchedspines that are very irritating when they come incontact with the skin. These whorls of spines arisefrom small tubercles. Full-grown larvae are about2–3 inches long. The body is pale green except forwhite and reddish brown stripes running thelength of the abdomen and associated with thespiracles. The young caterpillars are usually gre-garious, but as they grow they become solitary.Common host plants include maple, sassafras,oak, hickory, elm, apple, beech, cherry, blacklocust, mulberry, dogwood, sycamore, and evencorn and other grasses.Io moth

Present: July–October


Cecropiamoth(Hyalophoracecropia)

Present: late May–August


Full-grown caterpillars are 3–4 inches long.The most distinguishing feature of this cater-pillar is the prominent “knobs” arising from thepea-green body. On two of the thoracic segmentsis a pair of orange-red knobs arising dorsally.Each knob is covered with several small blackspines or tubercles. On each abdominal segmentthe dorsal pair of knobs is smaller and yellow incolor. Small black bristles are also found on theseknobs. On both lateral sides of the body, the knobsare light blue; the thoracic knobs are larger thanthe abdominal knobs. Both have small black bris-tles. Between these lateral pairs of blue knobs oneach abdominal segment is a light blue, oval-shaped spiracle. The thoracic legs and abdominalprolegs are yellow-green. Common host plants inMissouri include apple, maple, walnut, willow,elm, poplar, ash, plum, box elder, cherry and lilac.

Cecropia moth

Greenstripedmapleworm(Dryocamparubicunda)

Full-grown caterpillars are 1.5–2 inches longwith pale green bodies and red heads. Running thelength of the body are alternating light and darkgreen lines. On the second thoracic segment is aprominent pair of black, slender horns. Smallblack spines are found on the tops and sides ofeach abdominal segment (spines are found only onsides on young caterpillars), and larger spines anda red side patch are found on the terminal seg-ments of the abdomen. Common host plantsinclude maples, and oaks that are growing in mix-ture with maple. Populations of this caterpillarmay reach levels that can cause serious defoliation.

Greenstriped mapleworm

Present: late spring –late fall

Generations per year: 1–2

Pho

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ruce

Bar

rett


Tobaccohornworm

(Manduca sexta)

Tomatohornworm

(Manducaquinquemaculata)

Present: June–September

Generations per year: 2+

The caterpillars of both species are similar inappearance in that full-grown larvae are about 3inches long and the body color tends to be lightgreen (although dark green to brown forms mayoccur). The tobacco hornworm has seven obliquewhite lines on each side of its body. The upperborders of these lines are outlined in black, andthe prominent horn (spine) at the posterior endof the body is usually red. However, the lateralwhite lines on the tomato hornworm are V-shapedand point toward the head; the lines are not out-lined in black, but the horn tends to be black. Bothspecies feed primarily on tomato and tobacco,although they have been known to feed on egg-plant, pepper and potato. For control options,see MU publication M163, Managing Insect Pestsin the Home Vegetable Garden.

Tobacco hornworm

Catalpasphinx

(Ceratomiacatalpae)

Present: early summer –early fall

Generations per year:multiple

There are two variable color forms, dark andlight, of the caterpillars. Caterpillars with thedark form have a solid, broad, black stripe on thetop of the body with yellow and white markingson the side of the body. The head and horn arealso black. Light-formed individuals are paleyellow in color with patches of black on the topof the body, and the head and horn are yellow-orange. Full-grown caterpillars are about 3 incheslong. The only host plant is the catalpa tree, andcaterpillar numbers may reach such levels as tocause severe defoliation. For control options seeMU publication G7270, Insect Defoliators ofMissouri Trees: Colony Feeders.

Catalpa sphinx (light form)

Catalpa sphinx (dark form)

Tomato hornworm

HornwormsFamily Sphingidae

Many caterpillar species in theSphingidae family are referred to as“hornworms” because they have a con-

spicuous horn or spine on the top of the lastabdominal segment. The bodies of these cater-pillars are usually free of hairlike setae and smooth

except for shallow wrinkles in each segment.Adults are referred to as “sphinx,” “hawk,” or“hummingbird” moths. They are fast, strongfliers with a rapid wing beat and often hover infront of a flower to feed on the nectar in much thesame manner as a hummingbird (and superficiallythey look like a hummingbird too!). The name“sphinx” is probably in reference to the sphinx-like position that some of the caterpillars assumewhen disturbed. Some common vegetable,tobacco and other plant pests belong to this familyof caterpillars.

Smalleyedsphinx(Paonias myops)

Present: May – September


The body surface texture of this 2.5-inch-long, pale to bright green caterpillar is very grainy(granulated). Oblique light-colored lines can beseen on the abdominal segments and dorsalpatches of red are present both anteriorly andposteriorly. The spiracles are also red. Preferredhost plants include various kinds of cherry.

Smalleyed sphinx

Achemonsphinx(Eumorphaachemon)

Present: early summer –fall


Also called the grape sphinx, developing andfull-grown achemon sphinx caterpillars are green,yellow-brown or brown. The horn at the end ofthe body is long and slender and is lost with thelast larval molt. On the sides of the abdomen areoblique white bars that appear to be partially sub-divided unevenly into three sections; the spiraclesare found within the lowest (and largest) com-partment. Full-grown caterpillars are 2.5–3.5inches long. Preferred host plants are grapes (wildand domesticated) and Virginia creeper.

Achemon sphinx

Whitelinedsphinx(Hyles lineata)

Present: spring – earlyfall


This species is perhaps one of the most widelydistributed sphingids in North America. Full-grown caterpillars are about 3 inches long with agreen body. On the top of most body segments(about a head’s width apart) is a pair of pale brownspots that are connected lengthwise down thebody within a yellow line. The area above andbelow each brown spot is outlined in black. Thespiracles on each side of the body are found withina yellow area outlined in black. Caterpillars feedon a wide range of host plants, a favorite beingpurslane, but they often prefer weeds. If weeds arenot available, they will feed on such vegetables astomato, lettuce, turnip, beet, watermelon andcantaloupe. Known fruit hosts include apple, pear,grape, currant and gooseberry.

Whitelined sphinx

7


Clearwingedsphinx

(Hemaris diffinis)

Present: April –September


The color forms for full-grown caterpillars(up to 2 inches long) appear to be pale green tolight or dark brown. The body surface is coveredwith a light colored granulation. However, justbehind the head (first thoracic segment) there isa transverse double row of large bright yellowgranules going from one side of the body to theother. The spiracles are conspicuous and are out-lined in black. The horn at the end of the body islong and slender with a black tip and a brightyellow base; the horn may be shed duringdevelopment. There are no other markings (lines,patches, etc.) on the body. Known hosts includebuckbrush or coral berry, honeysuckle, snowberryand horse gentian. Adult moths are sometimescalled the bumblebee sphinx moth because of theirappearance or the snowberry clearwing.

Clearwinged sphinx

Clearwinged sphinx

SwallowtailsFamily Papilionidae

The caterpillars in this group are usuallysmooth-bodied and vary in color fromgreen or yellow-orange with black mark-

ings to a color pattern that gives them the appear-ance of a bird dropping or the head of a vertebratewith conspicuous “eyes.” All caterpillar species

possess a scent gland called an osmeterium that islocated just behind the head. When disturbed,this fleshy-looking, forked, orange-red gland iseverted from its pouch and releases a disagreeableodor. Because the caterpillars are relatively largeand very colorful, they too (with royal and silk-worm caterpillars) are quite noticeable. Very fewspecies would be considered important pests.Many adults from this family are colorful andbeautiful medium-size to large butterflies. Theirname is derived from the presence of tail-likeprojections on the hind wings.

Parsleyworm(Papilio

polyxenes)

Present: May – October


The color patterns of this caterpillar changedramatically as it grows older. Initially, the youngcaterpillar resembles a bird dropping — glossyblack with a white saddle-like spot on the first andsecond abdominal segments. By the time thecaterpillar is full-grown, it is primarily green,with a thin transverse black line at the anteriorportion of each body segment. There is also athick transverse black line in the middle of eachbody segment containing yellow-orange spots.Host plants include vegetables such as parsley,parsnip, carrots, and celery, and the herbs anise,dill and caraway, and many umbelliferous weedspecies. Adults are called the black swallowtailbutterfly.

Parsleyworm

Photo by B

ruce Barrett


Spicebushswallowtail(Papilio troilus)



Young caterpillars look like bird droppings(similar to the parsleyworm). Full-grown cater-pillars are about 1.5 inches long with the bodybeing swollen at the third thoracic segment. Thetop half of the body is green (or bright orange),which then turns into a thin area of yellow con-taining the spiracles, and then the bottom half ofthe body (including legs) is reddish tan. On thethird thoracic segment there is a pair of largeyellow-orange spots outlined in black. Each ofthese yellow spots has a large black center and asmaller light-colored spot. These eye spots givethe impression of being the large “pupiled eyes”of a vertebrate. On the first abdominal segmentthere is another pair of smaller yellow-orangespots outlined in black. However, these spots donot have a large black center or “pupil.” The restof the abdominal segments each have six small,conspicuous blue spots. The primary host plantsare spicebush, sassafras and magnolias.

Spicebush swallowtail

Orangedog(Papiliocresphontes)

Present: July – October


Considered a pest? citrus

These caterpillars look like bird droppingsthroughout their development. Full-grown larvaeare dark brown and white. The head has a whitelateral collar that extends to the sides of thethorax. The third thoracic and first abdominalsegments are swollen and arched with brown andblack marbling. The third and fourth abdominalsegments have a white saddle-like area thatextends laterally. The last three abdominal seg-ments are almost entirely white. Dorsally, fromthe thorax to the tip of the abdomen there aresmall, irregularly shaped blue spots. Primary hostplants in the Midwest are the hoptree andpricklyash. The name “orangedog” comes fromthe fact that the caterpillar is a pest of citrus treesin the southern states. The adult is called thegiant swallowtail butterfly.

Orangedog

Zebraswallowtail (Graphiummarcellus)

Present: May – November


Full-grown caterpillars appear hump-backedwith a swelling between the thorax and abdomen.Most body segments are ringed with transverselines of yellow-white and green. The anteriorpart of the first abdominal segment has a thickblack ring that extends partway down the sides.The preferred host plant is pawpaw.

Zebra swallowtail


Tiger swallowtail

(Papilio glaucus)



Full-grown caterpillars are green (darker ontop and lighter near the legs) and about 1.5 incheslong with an enlarged third thoracic segment.On the top of this segment is a pair of “eye spots,”areas of yellow outlined in black. Within eacheye spot is a smaller light purple spot, also ringedin black, and a black line above it. At the poste-rior end of the first abdominal segment is a trans-verse yellow line. In the middle of each abdom-inal segment there is a transverse row of smallbluish spots, and the last abdominal segment hasa small yellow transverse ridge. Younger cater-pillars will have a yellow patch on the top of thethird and fourth abdominal segments; this patchis absent on full-grown individuals. Preferred hostplants include hoptree, birch, tulip tree, ash, bass-wood, cherry, apple, willow and magnolia. Tiger swallowtail

Whitemarkedtussock moth

(Orgyialeucostigma)



Full-grown caterpillars are 1–1.5 inches long.Arising laterally on each side of the first thoracicsegment (which is red) is a group (or pencil) oflong black hairs that point forward past the redhead. Similarly, a single group of backward-pointing, black hairs arises at the end of theabdomen. On top of the first four abdominal seg-ments is a densely packed tuft of yellow or whitehairs, and on the remaining abdominal segmentsis a longitudinal black line of short hairs borderedby yellow hairs. In the center of this black line onthe sixth and seventh abdominal segments is abright red spot. On each side of the body are tuftsof white-yellow and black hairs arising from arow of tubercles. Host plants include many hard-woods and conifers, with preference to apple,basswood, elm, poplar and maples.

Whitemarked tussock moth

Tussock mothsFamily Lymantriidae

Some of our most destructive forest pests arecaterpillars from this family, which are oftencharacterized as being very hairy. These

hairs, often in a densely clumped “tussock” or asmall or elongated brush (called a pencil) are

found arising in specific locations, patterns andcolors; they can be stinging or irritating(urticating) when handled or touched by peoplewith sensitive skin.

Photo by B

ruce Barrett


Bandedwoollybear(Pyrrharctiaisabella)

Present: spring; latesummer – late fall


This caterpillar is often called the “weatherworm” because in folklore the width of its blackbands indicates the severity of the coming winter.Full-grown caterpillars are a little over 1 inch longand are covered with tubercles from which arisestiff hairs of about equal length. Middle segmentsof the abdomen are covered with red-orange hairsand the anterior and posterior ends with blackhairs. Hair color and pattern (band width) arehighly variable; often as the caterpillar matures,black hairs (especially at the posterior end) arereplaced with orange hairs. Host plants are mainlyweeds and other noncrop plants such as dandelion,dock, aster, goldenrod, plantain and some grasses.Banded woollybear

Yellowwoollybear(Spilosomavirginica)

Present: spring – fall


The body of this caterpillar is covered withsmall tubercles (often white or light colored) fromwhich hairs of varying lengths and colors arise.Most of these tubercles contain some hairs that arealmost twice the length of the other hairs in thetuft. The most common hair color is yellow, butorange-red to black variations exist. The bodycolor is generally yellow, but it may vary fromcream to light and dark brown. There is a dark lineon both sides of the body, and the spiracles arewhite. Host plants include more than 100 veg-etable, field crop, fruit, flower and weed species.Yellow woollybear

Pale tussockmoth(Halysidotatessellaris)



Full-grown caterpillars are about 1.5 incheslong. Each body segment is densely covered withtubercles bearing tufts of short or long hairs (pen-cils) that are white, silver-gray or black. From thesecond thoracic segment there arises a pair of longblack pencils and shorter white pencils that pointforward, and from the third thoracic segmentarises a pair of black and white pencils that usuallypoint away from the body axis at right angles. Atthe rear of the body, two black pencils point back-ward. On top of the abdominal segments is a lon-gitudinal row of dark gray tufts. Host plantsinclude oak, willow, poplar, hickory, grape andhackberry. The adult is referred to as the bandedtussock moth.Pale tussock moth

Tiger mothsFamily Arctiidae

Like the tussock moths in the familyLymantriidae, tiger moth caterpillars(often called woollybears) are covered

entirely with dense clusters of tubercles fromwhich arise short tufts of hairs or long hair “pen-

cils” of varying colors. The hairs on these cater-pillars can be irritating when handled by individ-uals with sensitive skin.


Fall webworm(Hyphantria

cunea)



Groups of these caterpillars are found insidesilk webbing structures usually located at the tipsof branches. During most of their development,caterpillars are found within the web feeding.Full-grown caterpillars, about 1 inch long, leavethe web nest. The body, generally light colored,is covered with tubercles from which arise tufts oflong light-colored hairs. On the top of the bodyare two longitudinal rows of conspicuous blacktubercles, between which is often a dark longitu-dinal stripe. The sides of the body are light col-ored and have longitudinal rows of orange tuber-cles. The head is either orange-red or black. Hostplants include more than 100 species of trees(forest and shade) and shrubs. For control options,see MU publication G7271, Insect Defoliators ofMissouri Trees: Web Producers. Fall webworm

Hag moth(Phobetronpithecium)

Present: summer – fall


Sometimes called the monkey slug, the full-grown caterpillar is brown, 0.5 inch long, and hasnine lateral lobes or processes with urticatinghairs. Some of these lobes protruding from thesides of the body are longer than others and areoccasionally shed. Host plants include variousforest trees and shrubs.

Hag moth

Stinging rosecaterpillar

(Parasaindetermina)



The body of this brightly colored caterpillar,about 1 inch long, has alternating, longitudinalstripes of yellow and orange. On the top of thebody is a longitudinal blue-purple stripe withthinner black lines outlining it. There are long,stout lobes with poisonous spins on the top andsides of the body. Host plants include oak and avariety of other forest trees and shrubs.

Stinging rose caterpillar

Slug caterpillarsFamily Limacodidae

Caterpillars of this group have reduced tho-racic legs, lack abdominal legs (replacedby sucking discs), and move in a creeping

fashion. They are 0.4–1 inch long and may beoddly shaped. The head is often hidden under thethorax, adding to their sluglike appearance. The

body ranges in color from dull to bright (green,yellow, orange, red and purple) and may besmooth or covered with elongated, stiff (some-times poisonous) spines and urticating (stinging)hairs.

Photo by B

ruce Barrett


Spiny oakslug(Eucleadelphinii)



The overall body color is green with spots ofyellow, orange and red (usually on the top). Bothedges on the top side and the lower lateral sidesare covered with stiff lobes containing stingingspines. Host plants include oak and a variety ofother forest trees and shrubs.

Spiny oak slug

Variegatedcutworm(Peridromasaucia)

Present: late spring –early summer


Full-grown caterpillars are robust-lookingand range in length from 1.5 to 2 inches. Bodycolor, from the top and down to the spiracles onthe sides, is a mottled brown-gray to gray-black.On top of each of the first four abdominal seg-ments is a conspicuous yellow spot. The top of thelast abdominal segment is tan with a less distinctblack “W” mark. Below the black spiracles is anorange-brown line followed by a light-tan ventralside. Host plants include a wide range of veg-etable, field, fruit and flower crops and weeds. Forcontrol options in vegetables, see MU publicationM163, Managing Insect Pests in the Home VegetableGarden.Variegated cutworm

Crinkledflannel moth(Lagoa crispata)



Caterpillars are covered with tufts of long,dense hairs, ranging in color from gray, orangeand tan. The light-colored hairs form a crestalong the top of the body. Underneath the coat ofsilky hairs are small tubercles containingurticating hairs that can cause severe irritationwhen handled improperly. Host plants include avariety of trees and shrubs, such as oak andsassafras.

Crinkled flannel moth

Puss caterpillarsFamily Megalopygidae

Cutworms, armyworms,underwings & dagger moths

Family Noctuidae

Noctuidae is the largest family in the orderLepidoptera. The body of the caterpil-lars ranges from smooth with very little

hair to clothed with short or long hairs; colorationvaries from dull-colored to bright stripes orpatches to cryptic. Although many species arefound feeding on the foliage of forest or shadetrees they are not considered serious pests.

However, several species are damaging to manyfield, vegetable and fruit crops.


Stalk borer(Papaipema

nebris)

Present: May – August


As the name implies, these caterpillars feedwithin stems of their host plants and cause theinfested area to wilt and become discolored. Thecaterpillars are not readily visible unless withoutdissection of an infested plant. Full-grown cater-pillars are a little over 1 inch in length. The headis yellow and the body is brown with white lon-gitudinal stripes on the top and sides. However,there is a large brown spot on the first fourabdominal segments that encircles the entire bodyand interrupts the white stripes. The body is rel-atively smooth. Host plants include more than200 field, vegetable, flower and fruit crops andseveral species of weeds. For control options invegetables, see MU publication M163, ManagingInsect Pests in the Home Vegetable Garden. Stalk borer

Tomatofruitworm

Corn earworm(Helicoverpa

zea)

Present: mid-June


Other names for this caterpillar includesorghum headworm and cotton bollworm. Full-grown caterpillars are 1 inch long. The head isusually light brown while the body varies frompink to yellow-green to brown. Overall, the bodyhas alternating longitudinal light and dark stripeswith a yellow band below the spiracles. Scatteredon the body are small, black tubercles bearingsmall hairs (or spines), giving the caterpillar arough texture. Host plants include a variety ofvegetables, fruits, and weeds, although this speciesis a serious pest of tomatoes, corn, cotton, soy-beans and grain sorghum. Most populations enterMissouri as migrating swarms from the southernUnited States. For control options in vegetables,see MU publication M163, Managing Insect Pestsin the Home Vegetable Garden.

Corn earworm

Tomato fruitworm

Blackcutworm

(Agrotis ipsilon)

Present: late spring – fall


Full-grown caterpillars are robust-lookingand nearly 2 inches long. The body is often uni-formly colored light gray to brown to black,although sometimes there appears to be a light,indistinct longitudinal dorsal stripe. The ventralsurface is light-colored. The body surface is vir-tually hairless, but there are numerous small,black tubercles. Host plants include a variety ofvegetable and field crops (often a serious pest ofcorn and cotton), and some deciduous trees andshrubs, and several weeds and grasses. Heavyadult migration occurs in April and May. For con-trol options in vegetables, see MU publicationM163, Managing Insect Pests in the Home VegetableGarden. Black cutworm


Cabbagelooper(Trichoplusia ni)



Full-grown caterpillars are about 1.5 incheslong and uniformly green. However, there may bea faint, longitudinal white stripe on the lateral sidesand several narrow lines dorsally. From the head,the girth of the body gradually increases toward theposterior end, and there are only two pairs of mid-abdominal prolegs. Host plants include a largevariety of vegetable (often a serious pest of cru-cifers), flower and field crops and broadleaf weeds.For control options in vegetables, see MU publi-cation M163, Managing Insect Pests in the HomeVegetable Garden.

Cabbage looper

Armyworm(Pseudaletiaunipunctata)



This pest is often referred to as the “truearmyworm” to distinguish it from other army-worm species. Full-grown caterpillars are about1.5 inches long. The head is brown and coveredwith dark netlike markings. Body color variesfrom pale-green to gray-green to yellowishbrown. On each side is a longitudinal yellow-brown stripe, bordered dorsally with a thin whiteline. The ventral side of the body is light in color.The abdominal prolegs have a dark stripe.Caterpillars are usually active at night. Host plantsinclude grain and grass crops, wild and weedgrasses, vegetable and field crops.Armyworm

Eight-spottedforester(Alypiaoctomaculata)

Present: spring – earlyfall


The body color of full-grown caterpillarsconsists of transverse, alternating narrow blackand white lines. On each abdominal segmentthere is also a wider orange band. Associated withthese orange bands are numerous, small blacktubercles from which arises a single, long whitehair. The head is orange with black spots. Hostplants are grape and Virginia creeper.

Eight-spotted forester

Greencloverworm(Hypena scabra)



Caterpillars are green with a longitudinal,white line on each side of the body. These whitelines become faded when the caterpillars are full-grown (a little over 1 inch long). A unique char-acteristic of this species is that the caterpillar hasonly three mid-abdominal prolegs. Hosts consistof only legume plants such as soybean and alfalfa(preferred hosts) as well as bean, cowpea, pea andclover plants.

Green cloverworm


Whites & sulphursFamily Pieridae

covered with short, fine hairs, giving it a velvetyappearance. Some adult species are known totravel great distances in mass migrations.Caterpillars from this group are usually

green and slender and lack tubercles orother projections. The body is often

Tent caterpillarsFamily Lasiocampidae the host tree. The larvae do not feed inside the

silken structure as the does the fall webworm.Rather, during the day, they leave the protectivesilk nest and feed on the foliage of neighboringlimbs. Several species are important pests of forestand shade trees.

Importedcabbageworm

(Pieris rapae)

Present: early spring –summer


The body of a full-grown caterpillar is a littleover 1 inch long and uniformly green with avelvetlike texture. On the top of the body in thecenter and running lengthwise is a thin yellowline. A narrow, broken line of yellow spots ordashes may also be found on the sides. Primaryhosts are cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage,broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower and kale.For control options in vegetables, see MU pub-lication M163, Managing Insect Pests in the HomeVegetable Garden.

Many caterpillar species of this groupconstruct a thick, silken “tent” in thecrotches of branches or small limbs on

Imported cabbageworm

Eastern tentcaterpillar

(Malacosomaamericanum)

Present: early spring –June


Full-grown caterpillars are mottled with amiddorsal longitudinal, white stripe outlined bya narrow black line and bordered by a concentra-tion of orange, wavy lines. Laterally, the bodymay have orange stripes, but there are blue andwhite markings on each segment just above thespiracles. Arising from the sides of the body arelight-brown hairs. Host plants include apple,cherry, peach and plum, with serious damageoften occurring on wild tree hosts. For controloptions, see MU publication G7271, InsectDefoliators of Missouri Trees: Web Producers.

Eastern tent caterpillar


Brush-footed butterflies,fritillaries & wood nymphs

Family Nymphalidae

Caterpillars in the Nymphalidae familyhave variable color patterns ranging fromlongitudinal stripes to mimicking a bird

dropping. Most species are covered with promi-nent spines and tubercles.

Viceroy(Limenitisarchippus)



The full-grown caterpillar is about 1.5 incheslong with white mottled patches of white-pinkand green-brown. Arising from the second tho-racic segment is a pair of large, brown spines orhorns that are barbed. A pair of much smallerbarbed tubercles, white to light green, is found onthe other body segments. Host plants includewillow, elm, poplar, oak, aspen and wild cherry.

Viceroy

Red-spottedpurple(Limenitisarthemis)



The full-grown caterpillar is about 1.5 incheslong with white, green, yellow-brown and brownpatches mottled together to look like a bird drop-ping. Arising from the second thoracic segmentis a pair of large, brown spines or horns that arebarbed. From the top of the second abdominalsegment is a pair of large, light-colored swellingsor bumps. Host plants include willow, apple, wildcherry, wild crab, elm, oak and other tree andshrub species.

Red-spotted purple

Hackberryemperor(Asterocampaceltis)



Full-grown caterpillars are 1 to 1.5 incheslong. The body is yellow to green with longitu-dinal to oblique white-yellow stripes on the sidesof most body segments. Two barbed horns arisefrom the green head and a pair of pointed projec-tions from the end of the body. From the base ofeach horn and running the length of the granulosebody to the abdominal tips is a white-yellow linebordered by shades of dark green. Between theseparallel lines in the center of the back is an incon-spicuous yellow line. The host plant is hackberry(occasionally a serious pest).Hackberry emperor

Variegatedfritillary(Euptoietaclaudia)

Present: June – October


The full-grown, salmon-red caterpillar isabout 1.25 inches long with a pair of prominent,black-knobbed horns arising from the firstthoracic segment, and numerous small blackspines are found over the body. Four longitu-dinal, fragmented white stripes run the length ofthe body. Host plants include flowers of the Violaand Passiflora species.

Variegated fritillary


Prominents & oakwormsFamily Notodontidae

colored, mimicking the edge of a partially eaten,distorted leaf, while others are brightly coloredand conspicuous. In some species, when the cater-pillars are disturbed, they raise both ends of thebody, holding onto the substrate with the fourmid-abdominal prolegs and exposing glands thatproduce irritating acidic chemicals to ward offpotential attackers. Caterpillars exhibit both soli-tary and gregarious behavior. Host plants includea wide variety of trees and shrubs.

Caterpillars in this group have variable colorpatterns and body texture. Some speciesare smooth with fleshy humps or projec-

tions while others are hairy. Some are cryptically

Walnutcaterpillar

(Datanaintegerrima)

Present: May –September


Developing caterpillars, 0.5 to 1.5 incheslong, have black heads and dark red bodies withseveral longitudinal white stripes. They are gre-garious, feeding and molting together. Often alarge mass of hairy, shed skins can be seen attachedto a branch or the trunk. Full-grown larvae, nolonger gregarious, are nearly 2 inches long andhave a black body covered with long, white hairs.Preferred host plants include walnut, butternut,pecan and hickory. The walnut caterpillar is oftena serious pest of walnut. For control options, seeMU publication G7270, Insect Defoliators ofMissouri Trees: Colony Feeders.

Walnut caterpillar, black phase

Walnut caterpillar, red phase

Poplartentmaker

(Closterainclusa)



Groups of these caterpillars are found within“tents” of leaves tied together and lined with silk.Full-grown caterpillars, about 1.5 inches long,are mottled brown-black with four distinct lon-gitudinal yellow lines on top of the body, and abright yellow longitudinal line on each side of thebody. On top of the first and eighth abdominalsegments is a black tubercle. The body is alsosparsely covered with light hairs. Preferred hostplants are poplar and willow. For control options,see MU publication G7271, Insect Defoliators ofMissouri Trees: Web Producers. Poplar tentmaker

Yellowneckedcaterpillar

(Datanaministra)

Present: late July –September


Full-grown larvae, nearly 2 inches long, haveblack heads and an orange-yellow prothorax(“neck” region). The body is black with severallongitudinal white stripes, and is lightly coveredwith long, white hairs. The lateral sides of the tho-racic legs and the abdominal prolegs are orange.Host plants include a variety of fruit, shade andforest trees, especially apple and oak. For controloptions, see MU publication G7270, InsectDefoliators of Missouri Trees: Colony Feeders.

Yellownecked caterpillar

Photos by B

ruce Barrett

Photo by B

ruce Barrett


Unicorncaterpillar(Schizuraunicornis)



The head of the caterpillar is mottled brown,and the body has longitudinal shades of tan-brown, except on the second and third thoracicsegments, which are bright green. On the firstabdominal segment is a prominent hornlike pro-tuberance (hence the common name), and asmaller protuberance on the eighth abdominalsegment. Host plants include apple, elm, aspen,willow, hickory and other broadleaf trees andshrubs.

Unicorn caterpillar

Gray furcula(Furcula cinerea)



The caterpillar has a brown head and twosmall, brown-barbed tubercles or “horns” on thefirst thoracic segment. The body is green exceptfor a brown saddle-shaped area on the abdomen.The anal prolegs are modified into a pair of long,narrow tail-like projections. Host plants arewillow and poplar.

movement rather than a crawling action. Thecolor patterns of many species mimic the foliage,stems or twigs of their preferred host plant.

Gray furcula

Linden looper(Erannis tiliaria)

Present: late spring –summer


Full-grown larvae are nearly 1.5 inches longand have rusty-brown heads. The body is yellow,and on the dorsal side there are several (up to 10)thin, wavy black lines running longitudinally. Thesides of the body surrounding the spiracles arebright yellow and the ventral side is pale.Preferred host plants include maple, oak, hickory,elm, birch and apple.

Linden looper

Loopers & cankerwormsFamily Geometridae

Caterpillars in the Geometridae familycharacteristically have only two pairs ofprolegs (one mid-abdominal pair and one

anal pair). They travel by means of a looping


Milkweed butterfliesFamily Danaidae

SkippersFamily Hesperiidae

BagwormsFamily Psychidae

Monarch(Danaus

plexippus)

Present: summer months


Full-grown caterpillars are 2 inches long andcolored with alternating, transverse white, blackand yellow stripes. There is a pair of fleshy ten-tacles at both the anterior and the posterior ends.The mid-abdominal prolegs are black with lateralpatches of white. Body texture is smooth andwithout hair. Host plants are milkweed species.

Monarch

Silverspottedskipper

(Epargyreusclarus)



The head of this nearly 2-inch-long cater-pillar is rusty-brown with a pair of large, con-spicuous orange “eye spots” above the mouth-parts. The first thoracic segment (“neck” region)is constricted and red-brown. The rest of thebody is yellow-green with transverse narrow darklines. Host plants are black locust, honey locustand wisteria.

Silverspotted skipper

Bagworm(Thyridopteryx

ephemerae-formis)

Present: early June –August


Caterpillars are found within conical, silk-lined bags or cases they construct from bits andpieces of the host plant. The bag is carried aboutas the caterpillar feeds and is enlarged as the cater-pillar grows. The full-grown larva is about 1 inchlong, and the head and thoracic regions have amottled brown appearance. It is difficult to pullthe caterpillar from its bag without damaging itsbody. Host plants include both conifer and hard-wood plants, with preference for white and redcedar. This caterpillar is an important pest ofmany shade trees and ornamental shrubs. Forcontrol options, see MU publication G7250, TheBagworm in Missouri. Bagworm

Photo by B

ruce Barrett


Snout & grass mothsFamily Crambidae

Gardenwebworm(Achyra rantalis)



Full-grown caterpillars are 0.5 to 0.75 inchlong and have a yellow-brown head and a yellow-green to green body. The body is characterized bydistinct black spots on each segment, six spotsoccurring on each abdominal segment, and a pale-green middorsal stripe. Host plants include avariety of vegetables, field crops, and weeds.Severely damaged plants are covered with silkenwebbing.

Garden webworm

Elm sawfly (Cimbexamericana)



This is the largest species of sawfly found inNorth America, with full-grown larvae 1.5 to 2inches long. The entire body is light yellow tolight green in color, except for a middorsal blackstripe. The spiracles are black. When not feeding,the caterpillar will often lie coiled. Preferred hostplants are elm and willow, although birch, mapleand poplar are occasionally attacked.

Elm sawfly

Pickleworm(Diaphanianitidalis)



Young caterpillars are light colored and cov-ered with several black spots on each body seg-ment. Full-grown caterpillars (0.75 to 1 inch long)lack the dark spots, and the body color can vary,depending on the host plant, from white to orangeto green. Host plants are limited to cucurbits,such as cucumber, watermelon, muskmelon, andsquash (summer and winter). Pickleworm cater-pillars often cause serious damage. For controloptions, see MU publication M163, ManagingInsect Pests in the Home Vegetable Garden.

Pickleworm

butterfly caterpillars usually have five pairs ofprolegs, four pairs on the mid-abdomen and onepair at the end of the abdomen (referred to as analprolegs). In contrast, sawfly caterpillars typicallyhave six or more pairs of prolegs on the abdomen.Sawfly larvae can cause significant damage tomany forest trees (conifer and broadleaf) andlandscape trees and shrubs.

SawfliesOrder Hymenoptera

Most species in the order Hymenopteraare beneficial to agriculture as eitherimportant pollinators or as biological

control agents that prey upon pestiferous insects.However, the hymenopteran group known as“sawflies” feed upon plant tissue and at times cancause serious defoliation. While adult sawfliesresemble a wasp or a bee, immature sawflies arecaterpillar-like, resembling the immature stage ofmoths or butterflies. A good diagnostic charac-teristic that can be used to distinguish betweenlepidopteran and hymenopteran “caterpillars” isthe number of prolegs on the abdomen. Moth and


Europeanpine sawfly

(Neodiprionsertifer)

Present: spring – summer


Full-grown caterpillars are nearly 1 inch long.They have shiny black heads and green and blackthoracic legs, and the body has longitudinal (andalternating) pale green and gray-green stripes.There are eight pairs of white prolegs. The cater-pillars are gregarious and primarily feed on the oldneedles (previous year’s foliage). Preferred hostplants are Scotch, red, jack and Swiss mountainpines, although white, Austrian and ponderosapines are also attacked.

European pine sawfly

Dusty birchsawfly

(Croesuslatitarsus)



Full-grown caterpillars are nearly 1 inch long.They have black heads and a yellow-green bodywith longitudinal rows of black spots (includinga row beneath the spiracles). There are sevenpairs of yellow-green prolegs. The caterpillarsare gregarious and prefer to feed on birch (variousspecies).

Dusty birch sawfly

Roseslug(Endelomyia

aethiops)

Present: summer


Full-grown caterpillars are about 0.5 inchlong. The head is yellow-orange and the bodyyellow-green. The caterpillars skeletonize thefoliage by feeding on the upper layers of the leaf,leaving behind the lower epidermal layer. Hostplants are only Rosa species.

Roseslug

Photo by B

ruce Barrett

Photo by B

ruce Barrett


For further informationCapinera, J. L. 2001. Handbook of Vegetable Pests. Academic

Press, San Diego, California.

Drooz, A.T. (editor). 1985. Insects of Eastern Forests. U.S.Department of Agriculture, Misc. Publication No. 1426,Washington, D.C.

Eliot, I.M., and C. G. Soule. 1902. Caterpillars and Their Moths. TheCentury Co., New York, New York.

Heitzman, J. Richard, and Joan. E. Heitzman. 1996. Butterflies andMoths of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation,Jefferson City, Missouri.

Metcalf, R.L., and R. A. Metcalf. 1993. Destructive and UsefulInsects: Their Habits and Control, 5th edition. McGraw-Hill.

Wagner, D.L., V. Giles, R.C. Reardon, and M. L. McManus. 1997.Caterpillars of Eastern Forests. U.S. Department of Agriculture,Forest Service, FHTET-96-34, Washington, D.C.

Achemon sphinx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Armyworm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Bagworm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Banded woollybear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Black cutworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Cabbage looper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Catalpa sphinx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Cecropia moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Clearwinged sphinx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Corn earworm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Crinkled flannel moth . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Dusty birch sawfly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Eastern tent caterpillar . . . . . . . . . . . 16Eight-spotted forester . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Elm sawfly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21European pine sawfly . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Fall webworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Garden webworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Gray furcula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Green cloverworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Greenstriped mapleworm . . . . . . . . . . 5Hackberry emperor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Hag moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Hickory horned devil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Imperial moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Imported cabbageworm . . . . . . . . . . 16Io moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Linden looper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Monarch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Orangedog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Pale tussock moth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Parsleyworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Pickleworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Polyphemus moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Poplar tentmaker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Red-spotted purple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Roseslug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Silverspotted skipper . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Smalleyed sphinx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Spicebush swallowtail . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Spiny oak slug. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Stalk borer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Stinging rose caterpillar . . . . . . . . . . 12Tiger swallowtail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Tobacco hornworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Tomato fruitworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Tomato hornworm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Unicorn caterpillar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Variegated cutworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Variegated fritillary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Viceroy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Walnut caterpillar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Whitelined sphinx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Whitemarked tussock moth . . . . . . . 10Yellow woollybear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Yellownecked caterpillar . . . . . . . . . . 18Zebra swallowtail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Index of species

IPM1019 New 2/03/5M

■ Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department ofAgriculture. Ronald J. Turner, Director, Cooperative Extension, University of Missouri and Lincoln University, Columbia, MO 65211. ■ UniversityOutreach and Extension does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability or status as a Vietnamera veteran in employment or programs. ■ If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and need this pub-lication in an alternative format, write ADA Officer, Extension and Agricultural Information, 1-98 Agriculture Building, Columbia, MO 65211, orcall (573) 882-7216. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.

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