I found this small (1/2" or 1.2 cm long approx), mostly a velvety black caterpillar snacking on a gaillardia leaf. I did do an internet search but came up empty. Does anyone know this sweetie pie? I have no idea of the stage of development. merci mucho
I may be wrong, but it looks like an armyworm to me. Not a sweetie pie if it is.
Thanks greenthumb...i looked at some army worm websites and the images (which included a Monarch pillar...those google images really crack me up sometimes) and i didn't find any information or image that convinced me. firstly, my worm/caterpillar has a more sleek lizard like head rather than a bulbous one and the eating pattern was described as eating leaves from the outside inward, while the one i have is eating holes in the middle. so i found some differences and not much in the way of commonality. still it could be i guess, but i didn't find anything convincing.
Someone with far more expertise than I will no doubt be along today to give you better counsul.
whether it is or is not an army worm, thanks for alerting me to this critter. now i know more about the army worms and how serious a problem they can be. in the meantime the critter is incarcerated and eating a rudbeckia leaf.
Awaiting trial and deemed a flight risk?
It does look like a noctuid; this family includes armyworms, cutworms, etc. but getting a specific i.d. on this one may be extremely difficult.
Exactly, greenthumb and the verdict is in.
Thank you Flapdoodle. This is close enough for me. It is a question of letting it go to flourish, or not. I guess i'll break the news to not so sweetie pie. Thank you both and adios noctuid.
