This is a dumb question, but was wondering with spring coming soon and flowers and vegetables of all kinds that are going to be planted, is there a way to distinguish a butterfly caterpillar from a moth or other strange caterpillars right off hand.
I am familair with a few caterpillars, but with bringing in and growing new plants, there always comes new beneficials and pests. Got all the room in the world for beneficials and try to supply their needs, but have no patience for the pests.
Seems like you see the caterpillars when your hands are busy digging in the ground, or your arms are busy with something else. Usually don't have time to run back inside to the computer and spend hours hunting during the busy season.
Plus I always lose whatever bug I was gonna checkout by the time I find a container.
So if somebody has easy ways for id, I would apprciate learning it. LOL the way my luck goes somedays, it would just be my luck to be nuturing a bunch of mean munching machines and end up with some really ugly pest. : )
At first glance.
Star, I don't think there's any easy way other than buying an ID book. I've read where all moth cats are fuzzy, but I've seen some that are smooth. I have a little Peterson First guide called 'Caterpillars', it only lists 120 common cats, so I'm thinking of buying another book.
Star the best Cat ID book to get is Caterpillars of Eastern North America by David L Wagner. It is the most complete book I have found. You can get it used on Amazon in great shape and for a great price
Another good book is Caterpillars of North America by Jim Brock, Glassberg and Allen.
Wagner's book is truly outstanding for identifying moth cats!!!
Most of it will be trial and error until you are able to identify them...so having those books on hand really helps.
I won't ever admit to how many moths and bug eggs I've babysat waiting and watching to see what they'd turn into!!!
~ Cat
Dear Cat (Texas Puddy Print), That is the book (Caterpillars in North America) I have started using and it has opened my eyes. Anything with Jeffrey Glassburg co-writing or writing is good. I am in California so I can't comment on Wagner's book.
Thanks,
Have a good day,
Chuck
Don't forget about your library too. Learning what butterflies are in your area and what their cats look like is the first thing to do. That way you can easily identify those cats from others. Then when you find something unusual you can spend some time researching that one.
IMO, butterfly cats and the really pretty moth cats are just prettier than the plain 'ole moth cats. Wooly bears are adorable tho, and Tussock moth cats are cool too. (I love that the moths look like they have little fur coats on!)
Sometimes there's no easy way, you just have to raise an ugly cat sometimes to find out. lol (right Becky)
Cat, that's funny about the eggs. I've done that before with the first batch of eggs I found. I put them in a little container and watched them and was grossed out when some sort of flies came out. LOL Now I can recognize those bad eggs and the good ladybug eggs.