![]() Here are some of the most common and spectacular butterfly caterpillars you will likely encounter. Types of Butterfly Caterpillars (With Pictures) - Identification Guide However, it’s good to remember that some moth caterpillars also have smooth bodies. Therefore, if you find a smooth-bodied caterpillar without tufts of wispy hairs, the chances are you have found a butterfly caterpillar. In addition, unlike some moth caterpillars, caterpillars that become butterflies never pupate in the soil.Īlthough some caterpillars have fleshy spikes, they typically lack the hairy bodies that characterize many moth caterpillars. The yellowish striped caterpillars feed on plants like tomato, apple tree foliage, elm, willow weed, purslane, and fuchsia. In other places, the sizable larvae can be dark green with black and white spots. When they enter the pupal stage, butterfly caterpillars develop a hard-shelled chrysalis. In some climates, the caterpillars can be lime green with an orange or black tail spike. Additionally, caterpillars that become butterflies have six front legs and several stumpy prolegs.Īnother way to identify butterfly caterpillars is by their pupae. Other features to help identify these caterpillars are the presence of horns, branched spikes, or spines. Butterfly Caterpillar Identificationīutterfly caterpillars are identified by their size, smooth body, colorful patterns, distinctive markings, and the host plants where they feed. Photo courtesy of Ferenc Lakatos, Soporon University. Descriptions and pictures of the caterpillars and butterflies will help spot these worm-like insects in a garden landscape, park, or woodland. Box tree moth caterpillars are green and yellow with white, yellow and black stripes and black spots. This article is a comprehensive guide to identifying types of butterfly caterpillars. But the dark brown mourning cloak butterfly is a spiky black caterpillar with stinging spines on its body. The adults lay their eggs on the flowers and new foliage of the host plants, which include parsley, celery, and other carrot and citrus family plants. This species can be found in deciduous forests, fields, meadows, and even parks and backyards. However, the zebra longwing butterfly caterpillar is a grayish cylindrical caterpillar covered in black, fleshy spikes. They’re easily identified by their green body with black bands and yellow spots. Species of caterpillar butterflies have specific characteristics allowing you to know the type of butterfly it becomes.įor example, the famous monarch butterfly starts life as a distinctive black, white, and yellow striped caterpillar. Identifying caterpillars that become butterflies is relatively easy. In addition, butterfly larvae or caterpillars can be green, brown, black or yellow and have identifiable stripes, patterns, and other recognizable features. Butterfly caterpillars typically have a smooth body, and some exotic-looking caterpillars may have a spiny appearance. Share on Email Share on Pinterest Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedInĬaterpillars that turn into butterflies are colorful worm-like crawling insects in all shapes and sizes.
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