Top 12 Caterpillars Found in Indiana
Buck Moth Caterpillar:Its body can appear in varying colors, such as black or a deep red, and may even feature white speckles.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail :The diet of eastern tiger swallowtail larvae includes leaves from a variety of trees, such as wild cherry, tulip, and birch.
Common Buckeye Caterpillar:Common buckeye caterpillars have a bluish-black color, decorated with stripes and spots ranging from yellow to cream. They sport multiple metallic, bluish-black, branched spines.
Forest Tent Caterpillar:Feasting on aspen and other deciduous trees for five to six weeks, they create hardly noticeable silk mats on tree trunks and branches where they gather for rest.
Monarch Caterpillar :The caterpillar of the monarch butterfly is one of the most common caterpillars found in Indiana.
Large Tolype Caterpillar:Caterpillars of the large tolype moth are gray in color and are heavily furred. In their early stages, they feature a unique flap on their pro-legs, which fades away as they grow older.
Gold Moth Caterpillar:The gold moth caterpillar measures about 1.57 inches in length and sports a vibrant orange hue, with a series of black bands encircling its body.
Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar:Mature giant leopard moth caterpillars are predominantly black, with each segment separated by red bands. From each section springs a cluster of stiff, black spikes rooted in brownish nodules.
Luna Moth Caterpillar: the luna moth caterpillar is one of the most recognizable in Indiana. This species is adorned with yellow stripes and reddish-orange spots along their sides.
Cabbage Looper:The cabbage looper caterpillars are green in color and are easily identifiable by the slender white stripes along their sides and several thin lines on their backs.
Imperial Moth Caterpillar:The imperial moth caterpillars ultimately grow into hefty worms, reaching an astonishingly large size of between three to five inches in length.
Fall Webworm :Their diet is quite versatile, with over 100 species of leafy trees on their menu, including birch, cottonwood, and elm, among others.