r/caterpillars

friend find of the day (not including the little jumping spider I bonded with earlier)

ChatGPT/Google said this is a White Marked Tussock caterpillar 💛

Found our first swallowtail cat of the season on our carrot greens. Somehow he has been hidden up until today, even though I’ve been searching my plants every night. He’s about 1 1/4 inch long. How close do you think he is to making a chrysalis?

Hi all! As someone who has never taken care of a caterpillar, I’ve come to you for advice. I saw this guy on the outside wall of the building. It’s hanging in a low space, there are lots of stray cats since I’m living in İstanbul, and it’s the perfect hight for someone to knock into it with their purse. Is there anything I can do? Can I take it home or move it someplace else somehow?

I found 2 swallowtail caterpillars in my backyard a couple weeks ago. Both are now about a week into the chrysalis stage. I decided to take these 2 inside because caterpillars in previous years haves gotten eaten. Any tips on how to put the chrysali back outside while keeping them safe? Anyway, check out how hungry this guy was

Live in the UK, just found these Hawk Moth Caterpillars in our Willow tree! ☺️ Now cornered off so the dog's can't get near it 🙄

Anything interesting or maybe even warnings? Found after it just randomly fell on me while sitting on the grass in the park. Location: Eastern Ukraine

I have had 3 Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars living and growing on my parsley plant. Two started to enter their chrysalis at the same time. Marcel successfully shed and is looking healthy. My other caterpillar, Beauty seems to have gotten stuck in between. She seems to still be alive (wriggles when moved too much), half in the chrysalis but she detached her bottom from the support she’s on. It’s been almost 48 hours since she entered the j-ish position.

It’s been really hot here in Philadelphia the last few days, I have read that heat can affect their transition. I just moved them into a spare room where it is warm and bright.

What should I do?? And can I save her?

We raised these imperial moth caterpillars from eggs, overwintering 24 pupas. Just went through a heat wave and the first 2 babies emerged overnight. I don't think they're fully inflated yet, he tried flapping when I scooped him up and couldn't fly yet.

One question if anyone knows about their reproduction *stuff*... One already laid eggs?? Could they be not fertilized eggs or are they gonna be incest babies??

How high do you think these caterpillars are? Lol

one of them is brown, the other is black

His big ol humps behind the head look a little off to me but I'm by no means an expert.

5th instar probably

I raised this guy from a caterpillar in a laundry hamper mesh setup with tons of dill and sticks. He somehow escaped the enclosure and ended up forming his chrysalis on our vacuum’s crevice attachment, of all places. We found him a few days later; my son gently patted him and he moved. Three or four days after that, I gave him a gentle pat too and he moved again. 12 days since chrysalis I believe. The bright green color is gone, it doesn’t look great anymore, and the bottom looks a little deflated to me. We never disturbed him beyond those two gentle pats, and he’s been indoors the whole time. Touched him today. Zero movements. Is there any chance he’s still alive in there, or does this sound like it’s over? Any experienced raisers who can weigh in? Pics attached. Thanks in advance 🙏

Hello! I had a Luna moth lay her eggs on an artificial tree that was on my top deck and too far from a food source. I decided to let her finish and save her babies. I have 12 going into cocoons and have managed to make it this far, just learning everything I can online. However, now that I'm at the cocoon stage, advice is mixed. I live in Virginia, and the humidity in my room is usually in the mid-40s. Some people say to mist them. Some people say not to. And other people seem to have no clue what they're doing and still have healthy babies. I've gotten my cats this far and don't want to fail them in the last stage.

I've heard that misting can cause mold, so I'm not sure what to do here and really want to do it right. The first one has been cocooned since Monday, and it's now Friday. I haven't done any misting yet because I read that they should dry out during the first week. Please help! So much anxiety!

Much appreciated!

Is it from molting?

I suspect it is possibly some sort of swallowtail caterpillar. At first I thought it was a toy! Until it started moving that is haha!

Species is Olene mendosa :)

From a random lil baby caterpillar on my seedling to an adorable, fluffy moth, i’m so glad i got the chance to look after this silly little dude (even tho he had me stressing a lot)

This took easily over 48 hrs. Lots of movement leading up to the final moment that lead me to believe something was happening. Yesterday was a frustrating day. The heat has not helped. They are in a fully shaded area too.

I observed them make their lasso and anchor. However that was not filmed. It was a neat process.

But the way the body thins, and narrows while slowly doing an accordion motion only really notable through Timelapse and then with the translucency between the segments that happens and then it transitions to an opaqueness beneath the skin in the very final hour. And of course, the final movements of the chrysalis as it hardens and sets.

Cool observations, indeed.

I hope these rescued caterpillars now turned chrysalis make it in this high heat to become butterflies!!

Also fun fact, the chrysalis wiggle when you brush against them lightly.

I hope you enjoy. I have no dill for my recipes. And I have learned to strongly dislike groundhogs, forever. For a first species encounter, this was a doozy.