SOME CATERPILLARS OF ONTARIO, CANADA
photos taken by Bea Laporte and identified mostly by Butterflies and Moths of North America's website at BAMONA or with help from Peterson's Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America

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A caterpillar (or larva) is the stage between the egg and the adult during the life cycle of a butterfly or moth (from the insect family: Lepidoptera). Every caterpillar species have specific plants they like to feed on called the "host plant", so knowing the name of the host plant that the caterpillar is on can often help with identifying the critter. Also, caterpillars have many stages called instars and can look very different from when they hatch until when they go into a pupa.

Smooth Caterpillars:
Spodoptera ornithogalli Yellow-striped Armyworm MOTH
Spodoptera ornithogalli
Spodoptera ornithogalli Yellow-striped Armyworm MOTH
Spodoptera ornithogalli
Mythimna unipuncta Armyworm
MOTH

Mythimna unipuncta
Noctua pronuba European Yellow Underwing MOTH
Noctua pronuba
Symmerista leucitys Orange-humped Mapleworm MOTH
Symmerista leucitys
Symmerista canicosta Red-humped Oakworm MOTH
Symmerista canicosta
Melanchra picta Zebra Caterpillar
MOTH

Melanchra picta
Cucullia intermedia Dusky Hooded Owlet MOTH
Cucullia intermedia
Eupithecia miserulata Common Eupithecia MOTH
Eupithecia miserulata
Cucullia asteroides Goldenrod Hooded Owlet MOTH
Cucullia asteroides
Heterocampa guttivitta Maple Prominent
MOTH

Heterocampa guttivitta
Panopoda rufimargo Red-lined Panopoda MOTH
Panopoda rufimargo
Autographa precationis Common Looper
MOTH

Autographa precationis
Melanchra adjuncta Hitched Arches
MOTH

Melanchra adjuncta
Papilio cresphontes Giant Swallowtail
BUTTERFLY

Papilio cresphontes
Papilio polyxenes Black Swallowtail
BUTTERFLY

Papilio polyxenes
Smooth Caterpillars with Bumps, Knobs or Fleshy Filaments:
Limenitis archippus Viceroy
BUTTERFLY

Limenitis archippus
Lochmaeus manteo Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar MOTH
Lochmaeus manteo
Macrurocampa marthesia Mottled Prominent
MOTH

Macrurocampa marthesia
Antheraea polyphemus Polyphemus
MOTH

Antheraea polyphemus
Hypoprepia fucosa Painted Lichen
MOTH

Hypoprepia fucosa
Haploa lecontei Leconte's Haploa
MOTH

Haploa lecontei
Evergestis pallidata Purple-backed Cabbageworm MOTH
Evergestis pallidata
Perithemis tenera Monarch
BUTTERFLY

Danaus plexippus
Caterpillars with a Rear Horn or Tail:
Ceratomia undulosa Waved Sphinx
MOTH

Ceratomia undulosa
Hemaris thysbe Hummingbird Clearwing MOTH
Hemaris thysbe
Darapsa myron Virginia Creeper Sphinx MOTH
Darapsa myron
Sphinx kalmiae Laurel Sphinx
MOTH

Sphinx kalmiae
Pheosia rimosa Black-rimmed Prominent MOTH
Pheosia rimosa
Sluglike Caterpillars:
Satyrium calanus Banded Hairstreak BUTTERFLY
Satyrium calanus
Satyrium liparops Striped Hairstreak BUTTERFLY
Satyrium liparops
Isa textula Crowned Slug
MOTH

Isa textula
Euclea delphinii Spiny Oak-slug
MOTH

Euclea delphinii
Hairy and Slightly Hairy Caterpillars:
M. americanum Eastern Tent Caterpiller MOTH
Malacosoma americanum
Malacosoma disstria Forest Tent Caterpiller MOTH
Malacosoma disstria
Spilosoma virginica Virginian Tiger
MOTH

Spilosoma virginica
Spilosoma virginica Yellow Bear
MOTH

Spilosoma virginica
Cycnia tenera Delicate Cycnia
MOTH

Cycnia tenera
Hyphantria cunea Fall Webworm
MOTH

Hyphantria cunea
Alypia octomaculata Eight-spotted Forester MOTH
Alypia octomaculata
Datana ministra Yellow-necked Caterpillar MOTH
Datana ministra
Pyrrhia exprimens Purple-lined Sallow MOTH
Pyrrhia exprimens
Pyrrhia exprimens Purple-lined Sallow MOTH
Pyrrhia exprimens
Hairy Caterpillars with Tufts or Pencils:
Halysidota tessellaris Banded Tussock or Pale Tiger MOTH
Halysidota tessellaris
Lophocampa maculata Spotted Tussock
MOTH

Lophocampa maculata
Lophocampa caryae Hickory Tussock
MOTH

Lophocampa caryae
Euchaetes egle Milkweed Tussock
MOTH

Euchaetes egle
Orgyia definita Definite-marked Tussock MOTH
Orgyia definita
Orgyia leucostigma White-marked Tussock
MOTH

Orgyia leucostigma
Acronicta lepusculina Cottonwood Dagger
MOTH

Acronicta lepusculina
Caterpillars with Bristles:
Simyra insularis Henry's Marsh
MOTH

Simyra insularis
Estigmene acrea Salt Marsh
MOTH

Estigmene acrea
Acronicta impressa Impressed Dagger
MOTH

Acronicta impressa
Lymantria dispar Gypsy
MOTH

Lymantria dispar
Pyrrharctia isabella Banded Woolybear or Isabella Tiger MOTH
Pyrrharctia isabella
Hypercompe scribonia Giant Leopard
MOTH

Hypercompe scribonia
Ctenucha virginica Virginia Ctenucha
MOTH

Ctenucha virginica
Caterpillars with Branched Spines:
Polygonia interrogationis Question Mark
BUTTERFLY

Polygonia interrogationis
Speyeria cybele Great Spangled Fritillary BUTTERFLY
Speyeria cybele
Nymphalis antiopa Mourning Cloak
BUTTERFLY

Nymphalis antiopa
Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral
BUTTERFLY

Vanessa atalanta
Automeris io IO
MOTH

Automeris io

Below are some larvae that look like caterpillars but do not turn into moths or butterflies. So, how can you tell them apart? Caterpillars may have up to five pairs of abdominal prolegs and never more but Sawfly larvae always have six or more pairs. Prolegs are those stubby and fleshy, unsegmented legs, found in pairs on the underneath side of the larva. Beetle larva only have three true legs and no prolegs.

Periclista lineolata Oak SAWFLY
Periclista lineolata
Cimbex americana Elm SAWFLY
Cimbex americana