Identifying Types Of Caterpillars: Common, Orange & Black, Yellow, Green, Austrailian, Tent, Poisonous And Caterpillar Cocoons

There are many different types of caterpillars found all over the world. Identifying types of caterpillars can be easy because of how unique some of them are, while other caterpillars look the very similar to each other. Some may not even be caterpillars at all; some insect larvae look just like caterpillars, but actually are a different order of insect all together.

Identifying types of caterpillars begins by looking at two things: physical characteristics and dietary habits. Caterpillars can be described by their coloring, skin texture and size. Those three qualities help identify types of caterpillars. Also, what type of plant caterpillars live on and eat will help when identifying types of caterpillars. 

Australia is home to about 416 species of butterflies. The Graphium eurypylus species, most commonly known as Swallowtail and Birdwings, are common Australian caterpillars. Identifying types of caterpillars can be harder when they change color as they grow. These Australian caterpillars are white and black when first born, then turn orange and black during adolescence, and lastly bright green when caterpillars are full grown. These Australian caterpillars have a bump on their back and are smooth. Their most distinguishing feature is their forked tail. They eat Custard Apple and Soursop plants, which are indigenous to Australia.

Identifying types of caterpillars commonly found in the North America include the Tent, Monarch, Black Swallowtail caterpillars and species of months.

The Eastern Tent caterpillars are the most common type of caterpillar. These are found most predominately in eastern and central North America. Identifying types of caterpillars begins by looking at the coloring and other signature markings. Eastern Tent caterpillars are black in color with a white strip down their back. Each segment of their body has two white spots, called eyespots. Eyespots are a natural defense helping to confuse potential predators. These caterpillars are categorized as hairy because they have long orange hairs growing out from their sides. They are full grown in about four to six weeks and grow up to 2 inches long.

What makes all species of Tent caterpillars unique from other caterpillars is that they are social creatures that spin a silken tent together around the center of the tree. They most commonly live on fruit trees, such as wild cherry, apple and pear trees.

Identifying types of caterpillars that are white with yellow and black stripes and have a pair of black antennas on their head and tail are Monarch caterpillars. These are known as fleshy caterpillars because they are hairless and thicker than most caterpillars. Monarch caterpillars grow up to 2 ¾ inches. Their favorite plant is milkweed and can easily be found as eggs on the under side of the leaves. Their habitat spans almost all of North America.

Black Swallowtails are also known as Parsley Caterpillars because they often are found feeding on parsley plants. Identifying types of caterpillars can be tricky when they change colors as they grow. When Black Swallowtails first hatch, they are black and white. Later Black Swallowtails turn into green caterpillars with black bands and yellow spots. These are categorized as smooth caterpillars because on the top they do not show the roundedness of their bodies segments. They grow to be about 2 inches long.

Black Swallowtails are poisonous caterpillars, but only to birds and other small animal predators. These poisonous caterpillars give off a bad taste to their predators when they try to eat them. This is because their body is able to turn the plants it eats into toxins. Black Swallowtails are harmless to humans. They eat Queen Anne's lace, carrot, parsley and dill plants. These are found in southern Canada, throughout eastern North America, the Southwestern United States and Mexico.

There are many species of moths throughout the world. Identifying types of caterpillars that are common moth species begins by looking for horned caterpillars. Luna Moths and Cecropia are caterpillars categorized as horned, meaning they have pointy ends coming out from the tops or sides of their body. Luna moth and Cecropia are green caterpillars. They both have red-orange horns, which are the pointy ends.

The Luna moth can be identified by its light yellow lines down both sides of it body. It feeds on hickory trees and is found in the eastern part of North America. Luna moths grow up to 2 ¾ inches. Cecropia caterpillar grows much longer, up to 4 inches. It eats maple trees and is found in eastern North America and parts of southern Canada.

Identifying types of caterpillars also can be done by looking at the cocoons. Some caterpillars pupate, defining how long they are in a cocoon, the color, and if they are underground when they pupate. Monarch caterpillars pupate and turn into butterflies in about two weeks. Their cocoon is bright green in color. Most moth caterpillars pupate during the winter, for over six weeks. Their cocoons can be gray or brown.




Sources:
"Biology and Control of Tent Caterpillars." Washington State University.
Presented by WSU. 29 Nov. 2006
Bessin, Ric. "Eastern Tent Caterpillars." University of Kentucky
Entomology. Department of Entomology. 29 Nov. 2006
Herbison-Evans, Don, and Stella Crossley. "The Identification of Australian Caterpillars." 11 Dec. 2005. 28 Nov. 2006 .
"How to Raise a Caterpillar." University of Wisconsin Madison. 28 Nov. 2006..
"What's This North American Caterpillar." What's This Caterpillar. 30 Nov. 2006 .