Caterpillars!

This post has absolutely nothing to do with fish, but as a lover of the outdoors, I tend to find a lot of things quite fascinating, such as caterpillars. I’ve come across a few interesting caterpillars this fall, and though I didn’t immediately plan to document them, the macro abilities of my LG G3’s camera gave me clear pictures from which to identify them. Here are a few of the recent ones.

Cecropia Silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia)

Cecropia silkmoth

I nearly stepped on this one while walking back to the house after feeding the horses. This is large caterpiller, approximately 10cm in length, and is native to Ontario. They overwinter in a cocoon that is usually found in tall grass or low shrubbery, and the adult moth emerges in May or June.

Zebra Caterpillar Moth (Melachra picta)

Zebra Caterpillar Moth

Zebra Caterpillar Moth

I had difficulties identifying this particular caterpillar that I found on some weeds in my garden. After submitting it to butterfliesandmoths.org, I ended up with the proper identification. Despite being the smallest caterpillar I have found, they can be destructive to garlic populations, although not enough to warrant control measures. Interestingly, there can be two generations per year.

Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata)

Spotted Tussock Moth

Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar

While specifically searching for caterpillars, I came across this one in a tree we have been meaning to remove for the past few years. The Spotted Tussock Moth caterpillar has irritating hairs that can cause an allergic reaction for some people. They are widespread throughout Canada.

Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillar.

After a day of surveying, my coworker and I hiked out of the stream valley and crossed a manicured lawn. There, we somehow noticed this caterpillar in the grass. The colouring was pretty neat and was part of the reason I decided to start documenting and identifying the caterpillars I saw. The adult butterfly is quite beautiful. The caterpillar will overwinter in a chrysalis, with Queen Anne’s Lace serving as it’s favorite host plant.

Caterpillars are fascinating creatures. They come in so many shapes, sizes, and patterns, that one can never get bored looking at them. Have a little search around your yard and you’d be surprised what you can come up with.

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

argosgirl

Sporadic blogger and sometimes podcaster who loves fishing, the outdoors, hanging with her animals, gardening, and reading manga.

Latest posts by argosgirl (see all)

• Book Review: Paddling My Own Canoe by Esther Keyser - October 13, 2024
• Fall Camping at Algonquin Park - October 8, 2024
• Intro to Trolling - September 7, 2024