10 Remarkable Types of Caterpillars and What They Become
Saddleback Caterpillar Moth
A green "saddled" saddleback caterpillar with tall red spikes on. a green leaf
Judy Gallagher / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
It's not hard to see how this caterpillar got its name: It's all in the neon green "saddle" on its back, edged in white with a purplish-brown oval spot in the center. Vibrant colors are yet another way Mother Nature sends a warning. These crazy looking critters, found throughout the eastern U.S., Mexico, and Central America, may only be an inch long, but like puss caterpillars, they pack a walloping sting. Beware their four lobes of poisonous spines—two in front and two in back—as well as several smaller stinging protrusions lining their sides.10 Unlike the puss caterpillar, though, there's nothing inviting about giving this guy a friendly pat.
By comparison, at maturity, the fuzzy, chocolate brown saddleback caterpillar moth is as benign as it looks.
A green "saddled" saddleback caterpillar with tall red spikes on. a green leaf
Judy Gallagher / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
It's not hard to see how this caterpillar got its name: It's all in the neon green "saddle" on its back, edged in white with a purplish-brown oval spot in the center. Vibrant colors are yet another way Mother Nature sends a warning. These crazy looking critters, found throughout the eastern U.S., Mexico, and Central America, may only be an inch long, but like puss caterpillars, they pack a walloping sting. Beware their four lobes of poisonous spines—two in front and two in back—as well as several smaller stinging protrusions lining their sides.10 Unlike the puss caterpillar, though, there's nothing inviting about giving this guy a friendly pat.
By comparison, at maturity, the fuzzy, chocolate brown saddleback caterpillar moth is as benign as it looks.
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31 August 2023
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