CLOSED: ID on furry yellow caterpillar

Can anyone identify this caterpillar? I haven't been able to pinpoint it down on the internet.

I live in zone 9 - the deep south tip of Texas. I think it is some type of moth caterpillar.

It is about 3/4" long, yellow in color, furry/hairy and has several longer tufts.

I saw four of them feeding on my duranta bush. Am assuming there are more but as I can't identify it I didn't want to go snooping through the branches for more in case they are some kind of stinging cats.

~ Cat

...please see additional photos of front end and back end.

This message was edited Jun 17, 2006 4:01 AM

the closest I could find is Yellow Bear but pics don't show if it has a dark face or not like yours does. None of my books list duranta as a host food but does list woody shrubs so........

I thought Yellow Bear as well but these guys are a nice bright yellow.
Here's another photo of the face...there is a white "X" or something like an inverted "Y" marking on the forehead.

~ Cat

This message was edited Jun 17, 2006 4:03 AM

...and another photo of the back end...it has two dark looking flappers? flippers? appendages?

~ Cat

that helps. How about one of the Tussock Moths. Closest I could come to is the Banded Tussock moth

LOL I don't know what the heck that is, but I sure got a giggle out of the flipper/flappers. Don't know why that hit me so funny, but it did LOL

It's so cute! My 7yr old came by and said "it looks like Doogal", which is a cartoon dog. lol I certainly don't know if Cat doesn't know! I'm interested tho so I might Google too.

I've been searching through the Whatsthatbug.com site, and also came up with a tussock. the pale tussock moth. but then i came across something else, on the page. which was The Laugher, Charadra deridens. Anyone want to look at these, they are on the 3rd page of caterpillars on whatsthatbug.com, because i am certainly no expert at this. i was just enjoying the hunt!

PiggyPoo :0)

I'm saying it's definitely some sort of Tussock moth but there are just so many variations. The pic on that site of the Pale TM didn't even look like other pics I Googled.

Flippers...flappers...I still won't touch 'em :o)

I've googled everyone's suggestions...it sure does look like some type of tussock moth...am leaning toward something in the Tiger Moth family, arctiidae.

I put four of them into a cat cage...I'll keep them fed and let's see what these "Doogals" turn into.

~ Cat

Okie dokie...this furry yellow cat turned into this fuzzy/hairy looking cocoon.

~ Cat

...and one has since turned into this little yellow moth :o)

~ Cat

Cute :)

...ps...haven't figured out what kind of moth it is either :o)

~ Cat

Is it's body furry yellow? yellowish white? I think they look like they have on little fur coats.

is it anyone of these. This is a good moth ID site
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/Files/Live/Living53.3F.shtml

I'm quite lost when it comes the little moths. I'm lucky if I can figure out what those big sphinx moths are...and truly the only one I recognize is the Pluto Sphinx and Black Witch as I've had those in my yard.

Frankly they all seem to have the same coloring after a while :o)

~ Cat

There are only a few small moths that I recognize in my yard and I've not been fortunate enough to have Luna's or Promethea's etc.

I was looking at this site agreeing that they all look the same, and then I came to this page. Look at #11055 and 11108! Pretty little things!

http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/Files/Live/Living56.5F.shtml

.. TexasPuddyPrint/Cat ..

Think .. that this one, may could be your lil buddy. Referred to as the Santa Anna Tussock moth (Lophocampa annulosa).

Take a look-see .. and if so; seems that these folks may be in need of some photos and additional input, also.