Many gardeners may be horrified at seeing caterpillars eating their plants. However, what many may not realize is that the thick green 'pests' could actually be preparing to transform into one of the most stunning and productive pollinators in the garden. Identifying pest and non-pest caterpillars is a useful skill for any gardener.
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Check PriceKnowing both life stages enables you to make informed choices about which visitors to embrace and which to control. Additionally, your knowledge of the plants that butterflies require in order to complete their full life cycle means that, rather than simply planting flowers, you will be able to create an authentic butterfly habitat as opposed to merely pleasant ornamental snacks.
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Caterpillars and Butterflies of the Monarch Species
You can spot the striking black and orange of a Monarch butterfly from very far away, and the same goes for their distinct caterpillars. Monarch caterpillars have two black tentacle-like protrusions on either end of their bodies. They have bright black, white, and yellow stripes down their bodies. To help you identify them, they are also known to munch on milkweed plants exclusively. If you come across milkweed infested with striped caterpillars, consider yourself lucky to observe one of the most astounding metamorphoses in nature!
Caterpillars and Butterflies of the Black Swallowtail
The Black Swallowtail butterfly has beautiful black wings decorated with blue and yellow markings, and they have distinctive tail 'extensions'. Their little dark caterpillars transform into beautiful green caterpillars with black and yellow striped patterns. These butterflies caterpillars munch on parsley, dill, fennel, and carrots – herbs they actually help by pruning.
Caterpillars and butterflies of the Painted Lady species
The Painted Ladies have lovely orange wings that feature black and white designs. Their caterpillars are spiny and display a brownish-gray coloration and can be found on thistles, sunflowers, and related plants. These amazing butterflies are capable of flying 100 miles in one day while migrating, which means any caterpillars you safeguard could end up being long-distance travelers.
Caterpillars and butterflies of the red admiral species.
Red Admirals feature unique red stripes on their dark wings with some white spots. Their caterpillars are dark in color with lighter stripes and prefer nettle plants. If you don’t have nettle plants, don’t worry! Red Admirals also utilize mallow family plants, and even hops from time to time.
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Caterpillars and Cabbage White Butterflies
Those small white butterflies flying around in your garden are probably Cabbage Whites. Although they are pretty, their yellow striped green caterpillars can harm crops of brassicas like cabbage, broccoli, and kale. This is one species where management is warranted if they are an overwhelming presence on your food plants.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies and Caterpillars.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are beautiful big black and yellow butterflies with markings like a tiger. They have striking caterpillars that look like little snakes. These caterpillars are bright green with orange and black eye spots. You can find these butterflies and caterpillars on wild cherry, tulip, and birch trees.
Caterpillars and butterflies of the Mourning Cloak species
The Mourning Cloak has wings that are a deep purple-brown color and are bordered in bright yellow with some blue spots. Their caterpillars are spiky and black with some red spots, and they tend to gather in groups on willow, elm, and poplar trees. These tough butterflies spend the winter as adults, which makes them some of the first butterflies you will see in the spring.
The Gulf Fritillary Butterfly and Caterpillars
Gulf Fritillaries have beautiful bright orange wings with silver spots on the lower side. Their spiky orange caterpillars eat only passion vine plants. If you live in warmer areas and cultivate passion fruit or ornamental passion vines, these caterpillars should be considered friends, not foes.
Caterpillars and Butterflies of Question Mark
The caterpillars of Question Mark butterflies have branched spines and white, orange, and black markings. Question Mark butterflies are named for the white question mark symbol on their underwings. Check the nettle, elm, and hackberry plants to find the Question Mark butterfly caterpillars. These butterflies can live as long as ten months, and they spend the winter as adults.
Skipperfluer og deres sommerfugllarver
Skippers are small but fast butterflies that bounce rather than glide from flower to flower. Green or brown skippered caterpillars eat grasses. Although skippers are not as brightly colored as other butterflies, they are important pollinators of native wildflowers.
Viceroy Butterflies and their caterpillars.
Viceroys have some visual similarities to Monarchs but are smaller and they have a unique black stripe across their orange wings. The bumpy brownish caterpillars feed on willows and poplar trees. This is why habitat diversity is important, different butterflies require different host plants.
Caterpillars and butterflies of the Spicebush Swallowtail.
Swallowtail butterflies have wings with an iridescent blue-green color and have some orange spots on them. Their caterpillars are such a good disguise that they look like small snakes because of large false eye spots and are green. They can be found on spicebush, sassafras, and wild cherry trees.
When you create complete habitats for butterflies, it becomes more than a place where they can feed. It helps them all the way through their butterfly life cycle. By understanding the needs of adult butterflies and caterpillars, you can help these amazing insects live for many generations. This is conservation.
