CLOSED: Caterpillar that lives underground. What to feed?

Origamikaren Orem, UT Mar 16, 2011

I have found a couple of these caterpillars while clearing out the dead leaves and weeds from garden beds in Utah. They are greenish brown with a kind of translucent white undertone. It's hard to tell whether it has markings or just dirt spots. Dark brown head.

I'd really like to keep one so that my daughter, who is obsessed with caterpillars can watch it eat and pupate, but I don't know what to feed it. In this particular garden bed we had dead maple leaves, grass, weeds like mallow, hyacinth, and tulips. It didn't seem interested in eating any of those during the time I kept it in a mesh covered bug house, so I took it back outside where it immediately dug down into the dirt.

Any idea what it is and what to feed it if I find another one?

Ah, it seems that I can't upload a pic from my phone. I'll post again with a pic from my computer

Post #8431737

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Origamikaren Orem, UT Mar 16, 2011

here is a photo -- sorry it's so terrible

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Mar 17, 2011

This caterpillar appears to belong to a group within the family Noctuidae (owlet moths) known collectively as cutworms and armyworms; some of these can be quite serious pests, as they will feed on a variety of agricultural and garden crops. See http://tinyurl.com/4ebjkbt for a Utah State University fact sheet.

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Origamikaren Orem, UT Mar 17, 2011

Thank you. I'll use the scouting method on that sheet to see how many there are, and to catch some specimens for study. And now I won't have to feel bad if they die on us. :)

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