Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Caterpillar Days

I found this field guide at the used book store.


I found this caterpillar in the grass.




I cannot find the caterpillar in the field guide.


Maybe I need a field guide of caterpillars
of the moths in the Field and Garden.

21 comments:

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Rats! I thought it would be helpful. I wish butterfly field guides included caterpllars too.
(at least mine doesn't)

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I wish I could help you with your id Sherry. The best I can do is tell you about another field guide to Caterpillars. Princeton Field Guides 'Caterpillars of Eastern North America' by David L. Wagner. There are so many moth caterpillars as there are so many moths. It would be impossible to have a field guide with them all in it. It is very frustrating to the novice like me.

Rose said...

I have been looking all over my garden for the black-dotted green caterpillar on the cover of the field guide, to no avail. However, I think I've been expecting to see them as large as those pictured on blogs:) I have seen several "woolly worms," as we call them--always a sign of winter to come.
The monarchs have reached you already? I hope that doesn't mean I've already missed them. I saw just a very few this year. I'll have to check out their migration path--thanks for the link.

Wendy said...

I like that green spotted one! I also have a fuzzy one sitting on the side of my garage door. Wish I knew who or what it was!

Mary said...

Sherry, you just keep getting better, dear. Your posts are a breath of fresh air - whimsical, loving, and downright breathtaking.

I need to visit you more often...for a cool down :o)

Hugs,
Mary

Marimoy said...

What plant did you find it on? It looks like a type of wasp moth.

Q said...

Dear Lynne,
Hopefully one of these days I will find a cat that is in the guide!
I have a new butterfly field guide of the butterflies in my area and in some of the entries there are caterpillars.
I know very few caterpillars. So much to learn!
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Lisa,
Thank you! I just ordered it from amazon, one click shopping is almost too easy!
I also ordered a field guide to moths.
I think I could recognize two caterpillars, Black Swallowtail and the Monarch! That's it! I would love to know my cats!
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Rose,
The black swallowtail caterpillars are the grren and black striped ones like on th ecover of the book. I have a few in my fennel and parsley. I also have seen them in Queen Ann's Lace.
I have seen the Monarchs flying high over trees so I think they are migrating. I also have had lots feeding in the butterfly bushes. I think it takes awhile for all of them to get going! Hope you will see some soon. It is beautiful at my house, sunny and 75degrees today. Perfect weather for them!
Sherry

Saucy said...

That caterpillar looks like he has a fuzzy jacket on in case it gets to be a chilly autumn after all!

marmee said...

beautiful fuzzy wuzzy on a field of orange.

Q said...

Dear Wendy,
I always want to know the names of all the different bugs too. There are so many!
Part of my winter program this year is to READ the Caterpillar field guides. I do look at the pictures in my butterfly and dragonfly guides. I also look at the pictures in my bird guides. Now to get to know the caterpillars.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Mary,
Thank you, dear heart.
Knowing our caterpillars is serious business! LOL...
I was working outside when I saw this little one crawling in the grass. I picked her up and placed her on the mums. No idea who she is! Wish I knew Caterpillar speak.
Autumn is coming...cool down on the way...
Socks and sweaters,
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Saucy,
Caterpillars are so cute! The more I learn about them the more fantastic they become. This one has a mohair jacket! I love the eyes.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Marmee,
Caterpillar hunting is a fun sport.
Watching this one disappear on the mums was very fun. They are fast moving.
Sherry

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I'm concerned that this fuzzy fellow might not be so benign. It looks very much like the tent caterpillars of my youth. On the East coast these were the contents hatching from the huge nasty white tents that covered whole branches of trees. Once hatched, the young devoured the leaves, destroying the trees. We used to use railroad flares to burn the entire tents to save our trees. Recently I have seen these tents on trees in Kansas.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

The story of my life.

I'm just now understanding that caterpillars go through the stages of growth, instars, that bugs do.
And that different instars look different.

Maybe if you keep it and wait...?

Belen said...

This is an Alien-Caterpillar. You should call the men in Black ;-)
well I´m just jealous because it is a very beautifull caterpillar. It has an asian touch

Q said...

Dear Anonymous,
I do think this little guy is one of the "tent caterpillars". We have a web in the back Ash tree. I have been keeping an eye on it to make sure the Ash is okay. I watched a Chick-a-dee eat a worm...than I watched a new to my backyard bird come and get worms.
Lisa, from Greenbow, was kind enough to id the bird for me, a Yellow billed Cuckoo!
As long as the birds are taking care of the cats I am pleased. If I see a problem starting I will get rid of the tent.
Thanks for your comment.
Namaste,
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Nina,
I bought another field guide and I think this little critter is a Fall Webworm. I could be wrong!
I also am learning about the different stages, instars, and how different each one looks. Lots to learn. Lots of fun.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Belen,
It is an Alien and it is after my mums!! LOL
Your little ones would think it is cute, I do!
Namaste,
Sherry