Butterfly and Moth Caterpillars

Butterfly and moth caterpillars bring shudders to some and delight to others. These 'worms' are the childhood stage of a butterfly's life. Each one, if it survives the harships of nature, will become an adult butterfly or moth. Caterpillars of many species of butterflies and moths can be identified simply by its appearance. If you find a caterpillar (they are not worms!) on a plant, the first indication of species of butterfly (or moth) is the type of plant that the caterpillar is found upon. Also important is the place in the world where the caterpillar is found. Few species of butterflies are found in all parts of the world.

American Painted Lady Butterfly Caterpillars Vanessa virginiensis	Atala Butterfly Caterpillars Eumaeus atala
Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly Caterpillars Phoebis sennae	Cecropia Moth Caterpillar Hyalophora cecropia
Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar Papilio polyxenes	Hackberry Emperor Butterfly Caterpillar Asterocampa celtis
Great Purple Hairstreak Butterfly Caterpillar Atlides halesus	Giant Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar Papilio cresphontes
Imperial Moth Caterpillar Eacles imperialis	IO Moth Caterpillar WILL STING!!! Automeris io
Ruddy Daggerwing Butterfly Caterpillar Marpesia petreus	IO Moth (Young) Caterpillars WILL STING!!! Automeris io
Viceroy Butterfly Caterpillar Limenitis archippus	Spicebush Swallotail Butterfly Caterpillars Papilio troilus
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar Papilio glaucus	Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar Eurytides marcellus
Saddleback Moth Caterpillar WILL STING!!! Sibine stimulea	Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar (Young) Eurytides marcellus
Puss Moth Caterpillar WILL STING!!!	Flannel Moth Caterpillar (Young) WILL STING!!!
Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Caterpillar Agraulis vanillae Sibine stimulea	Oleander (Polka-Dot) Moth Caterpillar Syntomeida epilais
Question Mark Butterfly Caterpillar Polygonia interrogationis	Cassius Blue Butterfly Caterpillar Leptotes cassius