Two caterpillar IDs - help needed

There were literally dozens and dozens of these caterpillars eating the waltheria indica plants out at the ranch.

Does anyone recognize these buggers? I put several into a cat cage but ended up tossing them back out onto the waltheria indica. I didn't bring any back to raise as I figured due to their immense numbers...they are no doubt a pesky good for nothing moth!

~ Cat

ps....this one is SOLVED!!! Got email on this one - turns out they are hieroglyphic moths (Diphthera festiva). I was right about these being pesky good for nothing moths! UGH!!! Oh well, they are colorful at least.


This message was edited Oct 12, 2008 8:43 AM

Second Caterpillar ID:

Found this big bugger crawling on the brickwork of the ranch house. It was about 1.5 inches in length and the thickness of a pencil. Also figuring some type of moth. Turns out there were gobs of little ones eating on one of the oak trees. So am assuming a web worm of sorts????

By the way..after seeing that mass of little ones defoliating the oak Mom went out and introduced them to their maker! Am still curious as to what they are.

~ Cat

This message was edited Oct 12, 2008 8:44 AM

Cat, I think your critter is the Orange-Striped Oakworm (Anisota senatoria). Your Mom had the right idea!

Barb

Edit to include link: http://insects.tamu.edu/fromthefield/orangestriped_oakworm.html

This message was edited Oct 13, 2008 4:14 PM

Thanks Barb...doesn't look exactly like that but they were on the oak and on their way to doing some major defoliating damage. :o) Glad Mom had the right idea!!!

~ Cat