Caterpillars of the Big Thicket in East Texas

Southern Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Banded Tussock Moth Caterpillar

White-Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Fir Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Dasychira meridionalis

Dasychira tephra

Dasychira sp.

Halysidota tesselaris

Orgyia leucostigma

Orgyia detrita

Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Tussock Moth Caterpillar

For Later Use

For Later Use

Subfamily Lymantriinae

Euchaetes egle

Euchaetes egle

Preparing for Chrysalis

Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Afflicted Dagger Moth Caterpillar

American Dagger Moth Catepillar

Yellow-haired Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Yellow-haired Dagger Moth Caterpillar(early instar)

First photo Acronicta sp.

Acronicta sp. Two days later

Acronicta afflicta

Acronicta americana

Acronicta impleta

Acronicta impleta

Yellow-Haired Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Cottonwood Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Greater Oak Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Smeared Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Retarded Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Acronicta impleta

Acronicta longa

Acronicta lepusculina

Acronicta lobeliae

Acronicta oblinita

Acronicta retardata

Ruddy Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Possible Ruddy Dagger Moth Caterpillar(ready to pupate)

Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Dagger Moth Caterpillar

For Later Use

For Later Use

Acronicta rubricoma

Acronicta rubricoma

Acronicta sp.

Acronicta sp.

Drexel's Datana Moth Caterpillar

Early Instar Drexel's Datana Moth Caterpillar

Late Instar Drexel's Datana Moth Caterpillar

Walnut Caterpillar Moth

Walnut Caterpillar Moth

Walnut Caterpillar Moth

Datana drexelii

Datana drexelii

Datana drexelii

Datana integerrima

Datana integerrima

Datana integerrima

Prominent Moth Caterpillar

Prominent Moth Caterpillar

Prominent Moth Caterpillar

Prominent Moth Caterpillar

Checkered-Fringe Prominent Moth Caterpillar

Checkered-Fringe Prominent Moth Caterpillar

Furcula sp.

Furcula sp.

Furcula or Cerura sp.

Furcula or Cerura sp.

Schizura ipomoeae

Schizura ipomoeae

Unicorn Caterpillar Moth

Unicorn Moth Caterpillar

Saddled Prominent Moth Caterpillar

Saddled Prominent Moth Caterpillar

Oblique Heterocampa Moth Caterpillar

For Later Use

Schizura unicornis

Schizura unicornis

Heterocampa guttivitta

Heterocampa guttivitta

Heterocampa obliqua

Double-lined Prominent Moth Caterpillar

Variable Oakleaf Moth Caterpillar

Lochmaeus sp. Ready to Pupate

White-headed Prominent Moth Caterpillar

Prominent Moth Caterpillar

For Later Use

Lochmaeus bilineata

Lochmaeus manteo

Lochmaeus sp.

Symmerista albifrons

Symmerista sp.

Cross-lined Wave Moth Caterpillar

Cross-lined Wave Moth Caterpillar

Cross-lined Wave Moth Caterpillar

Pug Moth Caterpillar

Pug Moth Caterpillar

Curved Tooth Geometer Moth Caterpillar

Calothysanis amaturaria

Calothysanis amaturaria

Calothysanis amaturaria

Eupithecia sp.

Eupithecia sp.

Eutrapela demataria

Dotted Gray Moth Caterpillar

Woolly Gray Moth Caterpillar

Woolly Gray Moth Caterpillar

Geometrid Moth Caterpillar

Geometrid Caterpillar

Geometrid Moth Caterpillar

Glena cribrataria

Lycia ypsilon

Lycia ypsilon

Family Geometridae

Family Geometridae

Family Geometridae

Salt Marsh Moth Caterpillar

Salt Marsh Moth Caterpillar

Grapeleaf Skeletonizer Moth Caterpillar

Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar

Early Instar Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar

Fall Webworm Moth Caterpillar

Estigmene acrea

Estigmene acrea

Harrisina americana

Hypercompe scribonia

Hypercompe scribonia

Hyphantria cunea

Fall Webworm Moth Caterpillar

Tufted White Pine Moth Caterpillar

Agreeable Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Virginia Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Yellow Bear Caterpillar(Virginia Tiger Moth)

For Later Use

Hyphantria cunea

Panthea furcilla

Spilosoma congrua

Spilosoma virginica

Spilosoma virginica

Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Tiger Moth Caterpillar

For Later Use

For Later Use

For Later Use

Tribe Arctiini

Tribe Arctiini

Subfamily Arctiinae

Note: To determine the species, you would need to raise most of these to see what they turn in to. Only a few are readily identifiable.

Girlfriend Underwing Moth Caterpillar

Ilia Underwing Moth Caterpillar

Underwing Moth Caterpillar

Lunate Zale Moth Caterpillar

Catocala amica

Catocala ilia

Catocala illecta

Zale lunata

Need to raise

Need to raise

tbd

Need to raise

Need to raise

Need to raise

Need to raise

Need to raise

Need to raise

Zale or Underwing Moth Caterpillar

Catocala sp. Caterpillar

For Later Use

For Later Use

For Later Use

Need to raise

Need to raise

Catocala sp.

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth

Purple-Crested Slug Moth Caterpillar(Mildly Venomous)

Purple-Crested Slug Moth Caterpillar(Mildly Venomous)

Io Moth Caterpillar

Io Moth Caterpillar

Acharia stimulea

Acharia stimulea

Adoneta spinuloides

Adoneta spinuloides

Automeris io

Automeris io

IO Moth Caterpillar

IO Moth Caterpillar

Spiny Oak Slug Moth Caterpillar

Spiny Oak Slug Moth Caterpillar

Spiny Oak Slug Moth Caterpillar

Spiny Oak Slug Moth Caterpillar

Automeris io

Automeris io

Euclea sp.

Euclea sp.

Euclea sp.

Euclea sp.

Crowned Slug Caterpillar

Crowned Slug Caterpillar

Puss Caterpillar(Southern Flannel Moth Caterpillar)

Southern Flannel Moth Caterpillar

Southern Flannel Moth Caterpillar

For Later Use

Isa textula

Isa textula

Megalopyge opercularis

Megalopyge opercularis

Megalopyge opercularis

Spun Glass Slug Moth Caterpillar

Spun Glass Slug Moth Caterpillar

Buck Moth Caterpillar

Monkey Slug or Hag Moth Caterpillar

Monkey Slug or Hag Moth Caterpillar

For Later Use

Isochaetes beutenmuelleri

Isochaetes beutenmuelleri

Hemileuca sp.

Phobetron pithecium

Phobetron pithecium

Cimbicid Sawfly

Elm Sawfly Larvae

Sawfly Larvae

Willow Sawfly Larvae

Red-headed Pine Sawfly

Sawfly Larvae

Abia sp. Sawfly Larvae

Cimbex americana

Macremphytus testaceus

Nematus calais

Neodiprion lecontei

Order Hymenoptera

Sawfly Larvae

Sawfly Larvae

Leaf Beetle Larvae

Cimbicid Sawfly Larvae

Sawfly Larvae

For Later Use

tbd Sawfly Larvae

tbd Sawfly Larvae

Trirhabda bacharidis

tbd Sawfly Larvae

Possible Sawfly Larvae

Prob. Syrphid Fly Larvae

Prob. Syrphid Fly Larvae

For Later Use

For Later Use

For Later Use

For Later Use

Possible Syrphid Fly Larvae

Possible Syrphid Fly Larvae

Eight-spotted Forester Moth Caterpillar

Probable Buck Moth Caterpillar

Ragweed Flower Moth Caterpillar

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Caterpillar

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Caterpillar ready to pupate

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Caterpillar

Alypia octomaculata

Hemileuca or Chlosyne sp.

Schinia rivulosa

Agraulis vanillae

Agraulis vanillae

Agraulis vanillae

Red Admiral Butterfly Caterpillar based on Host Plant

Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly Caterpillar

Caterpillar

Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly Caterpillar newly hatched

Early Instar Common Buckeye Butterfly Caterpillar

Vanessa atalanta

Vanessa virginiensis

Chlosyne nycteis

Chlosyne or Hemileuca sp.

Chlosyne nycteis

Probable Junonia coenia

Common Buckeye Butterfly Caterpillar

Common Buckeye Butterfly Caterpillar

Question Mark Butterfly Caterpillar

Question Mark Butterfly Caterpillar

For Later Use

For Later Use

Junonia coenia

Junonia coenia

Polygonia interrogationis

Polygonia interrogationis

Pink-striped Oakworm Moth Caterpillar

Pink-striped Oakworm Moth Caterpillar

Rose Hooktip Moth Caterpillar

Early Instar Rose Hooktip Moth Caterpillar

Horned Spanworm Moth Caterpillar

Curve-lined Owlet Moth Caterpillar

Anisota virginiensis

Anisota virginiensis

Oreta rosea

Oreta rosea

Nematocampa resistaria

Phyprosopus callitrichoides

Probable Viceroy Butterfly Caterpillar

Probable Viceroy Butterfly Caterpillar

Viceroy Butterfly Chrysalis

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar

Limenitis sp.

Limenitis sp.

Limenitis sp.

Danaus plexippus (early instar)

Danaus plexippus (later instar)

Danaus plexippus (start to pupate)

Common Spragueia Moth Caterpillar

For Later Use

For Later Use

For Later Use

For Later Use

For Later Use

Spragueia leo

Goatweed Leafwing Butterfly Caterpillar

Yellow Scallop Moth Caterpillar

Dot-lined White Moth Caterpillar

Probable Great Purple Hairstreak Butterfly Caterpillar attacked by wasp.

Florida Fern Moth Caterpillar

Duskywing Butterfly Caterpillar

Anaea andria

Anomis erosa

Artace cribraria

Atlides halesus

Callopistria floridensis

Erynnis sp.

Early Instar Turbulent Phosphila Moth Caterpillar

Turbulent Phosphila Owlet Moth Caterpillar

Spotted Phosphila Moth Caterpillar

Red-Eyed Button Slug Moth Caterpillar

Intractable Quaker Moth Caterpillar

Large Necklace Moth Caterpillar

Phosphila turbulenta

Phosphila turbulenta

Phosphila miselioides

Heterogenea shurtleffi

Himella fidelis

Hypsoropha monilis

Goldenrod Flower Moth Caterpillar

Flower Moth Caterpillar

Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Moth)

Forest Tent Caterpillar (Moth)

Light Marathyssa Moth Caterpillar

Moonseed Moth Caterpillar

Schinia nundina

Schinia nundina

Malacosoma americanum

Malacosoma disstria

Marathyssa basalis

Plusiodonta compressipalpis

Geometrid Moth Caterpillar

Whie-dotted Groundling Moth Caterpillar

For Later Use

For Later Use

For Later Use

For Later Use

Epimecis sp.

Condica videns

Fall Webworm Moth Caterpillar

Fall Webworm Moth Caterpillar

Excellent Camouflaged Emerald Moth Caterpillar

Emerald Moth Caterpillar

Bagworm Moth Caterpillar

Pine needle snack at one in the morning, tbd

Hyphantria cunea

Hyphantria cunea

Synchlora sp.

Subfamily Geometrinae

Family Psychidae

tbd

Dagger Moth Caterpillar with Unknown Parasites

Thread-waisted Wasp Predator

Trumpet Vine Sphinx Moth Caterpillar with Parasitic Wasps

Schizura Moth Caterpillar with Unknown Parasites

Banded Sphinx & Braconid Wasp Pupae

For Later Use

Acronicta sp.

Eremnophila & Heterocampa

Paratrea plebeja

Schizura sp.

Eumorpha fasciatus & Wasps

Probable Braconid Wasp Parisitoid

Caterpillar Predator

Caterpillar Predator

Uknown Caterpillar with Parasites

For Later Use

For Later Use

Probable Braconid Wasp Parisitoid

Ammophila procera Wasp &
Heterocampa sp. Caterpillar

Ammophila procera Wasp &
Heterocampa sp. Caterpillar

tbd

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Tussock Moth Caterpillars

Dagger Moth Caterpillars

Prominent Moth Caterpillars

Inchworms, Loopers, & Spanworms

Zales (Tribe Omopterini) & Underwings (Genus Catocala) Moths

Venomous Caterpillars

Hairy & Tufted Caterpillars

Spiny Caterpillars

Caterpillars w/ Horns or Tails

Smooth or Granular Caterpillars

Various Caterpillars

Caterpillar Enemies

Various Larvae

Luna Moth Caterpillar

Luna Moth Caterpillar(early instar)

Luna Moth Caterpillar

Spotted Apatelodes Moth Caterpillar

Honey Locust Moth Caterpillar

Imperial Moth Caterpillar

Actias luna

Actias luna

Actias luna(ready to pupate)

Apatelodes torrefacta

Syssphinx bicolor(Sphingicampa)

Eacles imperialis

Early instar Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar

Early instar Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar

Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar

Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar

For Later Use

For Later Use

Antheraea polyphemus(1st instar)

Antheraea polyphemus

Antheraea polyphemus

Antheraea polyphemus

Silkworm & Royal Moth Caterpillars

Walnut Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

Pawpaw Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

Pawpaw Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

Baldcypress Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

Amorpha junglandis

Dolba hyloeus

Dolba hyloeus (prob.)

Eumorpha fasciatus

Eumorpha fasciatus

Isoparce cupressi

Baldcypress Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

Baldcypress Sphinx Moth Caterpillar Ready to Pupate

Baldcypress Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

Modest Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

For Later Use

For Later Use

Isoparce cupressi

Isoparce cupressi

Isoparce cupressi

Pachysphinx modesta

Sphinx Moth Caterpillars

Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillars

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar, a little older.

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar, older still.

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

Papilio glaucus

Papilio glaucus

Papilio troilus

Papilio troilus

Papilio troilus

Papilio troilus

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

Palamedes Swallowtail Caterpillar

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

For Later Use

For Later Use

Papilio troilus

Papilio palamedes

Papilio polyxenes

Papilio polyxenes

CATERPILLARS of the Big Thicket in East Texas
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Armyworms (Genus Spodoptera)
Note: The similar markings on the various instars makes species identification difficult.
The two most common are the Southern Armyworm Moth(S. eridania) & the Fall Armyworm Moth(S. frugiperda).

Armyworm Moth Caterpillar

Armyworm Moth Caterpillar

Armyworm Moth Caterpillar

Armyworm Moth Caterpillar

Armyworm Moth Caterpillar

Armyworm Moth Caterpillar

Spodoptera sp.

Spodoptera sp.

Spodoptera sp.

Spodoptera sp.

Spodoptera sp.

Spodoptera sp.

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