Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: What kind of caterpillar?, 0 by greenshadow

greenshadow wrote:
Here is a picture of one that I spotted on our front porch steps last week - it looks similar to yours. We also had them when I was growing up in the foothills of NC but we didn't know what they were. I spent hours online looking last weekend and I believe it is an American Dagger moth caterpillar, Acronicta americana. Here are some websites:

This one has some pictures of the "finished moth". Not as attractive as you would think maybe, considering the caterpillar's appearance:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/505/bgpage

This one gives just a tiny bit of information on them, and a picture closer to ours:
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/insects/cateast/acroamer....

I personally think they are really cute. Mine even had a cute face with big eyes. I have a suspicion they are venomous but I can't confirm this (and I'm not gonna test it out myself!)

Edit: I just realized I didn't answer your question as to whether it is a pest or not. I'm not familiar with moths in relation to gardening yet (I'm a noob) but at least maybe this will get you in the right direction. Since I spent so much time researching this weekend I thought I'd share. :)

Best wishes!
Lisa

This message was edited Jul 12, 2006 8:09 PM