Utah ’s divers ecosystem are a haven for many species of cat , each put up to the state ’s vibrant biodiversity . In this article , we reveal the 41 types of cat found in Utah , along with pictures and their identifying characteristics .
Different Types of Caterpillars in Utah
Buck Moth Caterpillar
The expectant cutting cat in Utah is the Buck Moth Caterpillar , or Hemileuca maia as it is known in science . It has a formidable appearance due to its black body covered in midget white dots and jag tufts of vertebral column . It is advised to handle these caterpillars with precaution as their venomous back can cause peel irritation and redness . They eat the foliage of scrub oak , live oak tree , Jolly Roger oak tree , and dwarf chestnut oak tree . They have a placeable daily round , shiny dim head . To avoid unpleasant stings , keep your aloofness from these creepy - crawlies .
Monkey Slug Caterpillars
The Monkey Slug Caterpillar , or Phobetron pithecium as it is scientifically known , is an queer brown and muzzy caterpillar find in Utah . It looks like adead hairy spideror an old leaf , with a flattened furry body and nine pairs of strange projections along the sides . It can sting , and if handled without protective paraphernalia , its venom may cause pain in the ass . continue with caution . This tiny caterpillar is a rare muckle in the domain and can be found on orchard apple tree , ash , birch , dogwood tree , hickory , oak , walnut , and willow trees .
Southern Flannel Caterpillar
The Southern Flannel Caterpillar , also called the puss caterpillar , is a furry louse that can sting distressingly from hidden venomous stiletto heel . Often seen in the South , especially on oak tree and elm tree , these grubs are vicious and should not be bear upon to nullify excruciating pain . It ’s also known as asp larva , touch on to the atrocious sting that resembles a snake bite and bear a Persian true cat - corresponding visual aspect . have sex by its scientific name , Megalopyge opercularis , it is up to 2.5 cm long , brown , and hirsute , with a broad , rounded straits .
White-Marked Tussock Caterpillar
The White - Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar ( Orgyia leucostigma ) has a multicolored body that is emphasized by its long white hairs and Black Tufts that resemble antennae . With its massivered headand red spots surrounding the mid - dorsal area , it ’s an telling mass . The rest of its body is mostly ignominious , with yellow chevron providing contrast . This species eats yield and hardwood tree diagram like oak and apple , though it is usually determine on rose petals and other bloom in gardens . These caterpillars eventually succumb to a contractable disease , even after numerous outbreaks .
Tobacco Hornworm Caterpillar
The Manduca Sexta , also called the Tobacco Hornworm , is a bright greencaterpillar with white diagonal stripesdown its sides and eyespot scoring . Its unique orange tree , green , or brown rear horn can get hold of a length of up to 7 curium . These insect resemble tomato hornworms and provender on the leaf of tobacco plant , tomato , and eggplant . However , the tobacco plant hornworm is name by its distinct diagonal stripes . tobacco plant , tomato , Madagascar pepper , eggplant , and a variety of cosmetic shrubs are examples of master of ceremonies plants .
Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
The Pipevine swallow-tailed coat cat , or Battus philenor , has overweight horns on its top dog , arse , and side . Its overall gloss is dark chocolate-brown . Two rows of lifelike orange dots running the length of its back are one of its distinguishing characteristics , score identification bare . The cat , which has fine hairs that give it a velvety look , is so hungry that it can grow up to be 5 cm farseeing . Ironweed and thistle flowers are examples of host plants for this mintage .
Imperial Moth Caterpillar
The scientific name for the Imperial Moth Caterpillar is Eacles imperialis . It has a erose protrusion that resembles a stern and long , spiky horns on its head . It is orangish - chocolate-brown to non-white brownish or dark green in color , and it can attain a length of 7.5–10 cm . Mature caterpillars change people of color ; they become grim and haired , which indicates that they are ready to pupate . Found on the leaf of pine , maple , oak tree , sweetgum , and sassafras , this mintage is interesting at different stages of growth .
Io Moth Caterpillar
The greenish caterpillar with stinging hairson its four sets of prolegs is called the Io Moth Caterpillar , or Automeris io in scientific idiom . Pale green coloring material and band of lifelike unripened hair tufts circle its abdomen ; its characteristic red and white chevron along the abdomen make recognition simple . Without base hit gear , palm these caterpillars can result in painful , burning rashes . These creepy-crawly insect , which can grow up to 6 cm in length , are found on plants such as blackberry , willow tree , redbud , hackberry , and Pyrus communis .
Saddleback Caterpillar
In Utah , there is a slug - like cat with vicious spikes on its back known as the Saddleback Caterpillar , or scientifically known as Acharia stimulea . It can be easily recognized by the enormous brown lap and straight dark-green eyepatch that stick out on the central part , which resemble a saddle . Its frightening prototype is enhanced by stinging rachis running the length of its belly and horns at either end , measuring up to 2.5 cm . When descend across this unique metal money , which is found on apple , asters , blueberry , lemon yellow , citrous fruit , dogwood , elms , and grapes , vigilance is advised .
Milkweed Tiger Caterpillar
The scientific name for the milkweed Panthera tigris caterpillar is Euchaetes egle . It is a diminutive , hairy caterpillarwith tufts of bright orangish , yellow , black , and white whisker . It has a alone visual aspect with tan - colorise tufts on its sides and a characteristic hairy brown eubstance with orangey spiky tufts on the back . If you come in across them feeding on dogbane and milkweed plants , you should forefend handling them since their whisker might irritate your pelt .
Giant Leopard Caterpillar
Known by its scientific name Hypercompe scribonia , the elephantine leopard caterpillar is a commonblack caterpillarwith spikes found in the Southeast area of the United States . Its fluffy aspect and spiked body , which are notable for their obtrusive red bands between sharp spines , can pain people if the spikes puncture their skin . This creepy-crawly bug , which can reach a length of 5 curium , consumes willows , banana , cherry , lettuce , maples , sunflowers , and violets .
Banded Woolly Bear Caterpillar
Pyrrharctia Isabella I , scientifically known as the Banded Woolly Bear Caterpillar , is a common inglorious and brownish muzzy caterpillar find in Utah . It is make out by a wide rusty brown stria gird its smuggled body . It is oblong in chassis and has fuzzy spines , making it difficult to find the principal and tail . In malice of their show , these cat do not bite or contain any poison . They curl themselves into a clump when they finger threatened . These creepy - looking organisms can be discover on plantains , aster , blowball , goldenrod , and sealed pot . They can be identified by their characteristic brown band around the halfway portion and two black band at either terminal .
American Dagger Moth Caterpillar
Acronicta Americana , the formal name for the American Dagger Moth Caterpillar , is a pale yellow moth cat with long black pencil - like hair . It is distinguished by its shiny sinister ellipse head and fuzzy chicken body . It also has spiky hairs on its head that , when touched , irritate the skin and have blizzard . These fuzzy caterpillars , which are found on hardwood tree such as alder , ash , elm , maple , oak , and willow , have two pairs of long pencil - hair on their backs and abide out with their lily-livered feathery spine .
Tomato Hornworm Caterpillar
Manduca quinquemaculata , the scientific name for the tomato hornworm caterpillar , is a brilliant green garden pestilence with V - shaped pattern and rows of eyespot . It can be key out by the branch of its pointed sinister tail , which resembles a horn . Its preferred intellectual nourishment is tomato leaf . With its strong leaf camouflage , this up to 10 cm long flora can be difficult to key out on tomato plants . It is advised to use chemical intervention to assure infestations .
White Admiral Caterpillar
The Utah cat known as the White Admiral , or Limenitis arthemis in scientific terms , portmanteau word in with bird droppings on branches to guard off predators . It can be recognise by its irregular snowy daub on its light green and brown body and its two farsighted pitch-black motor horn on top of its head . It consume leave from willow tree , aspen , poplar , andbirch trees . These caterpillars pupate to become vivid , pearlescent blue and orange butterflies .
Common Pine Sawfly Caterpillar
Diprion pini , the scientific name for the common pine sawfly caterpillar , is a light green cat with black dots on its flanks and a single shameful line pass along its back . This cat , which is found on Scotch pines , pupates into a pine sawfly , a variety of wasp . One of its most distinctive characteristics is its hoary crimson point , which , before pupation , changes to a pale yellow and translucent state and is constellate with unreal eyespots .
Eight-Spotted Forester Caterpillar
Alypia octomaculata , formally bonk as the Eight - Spotted Forester Caterpillar , is an orange caterpillar found in Utah that has sinister and blanched band all over its eubstance . Every section has dark tubercle that resemble tiny , spherical smirch . Three sets of pointed forelegs , four set of prolegs , and obvious feathery vertebral column are distinguishing characteristics . This cat , which is discover on grape and Virginia creeper plant , is distinguished by its wide-eyed orange tree stripes with black spots , tufts of tiny spinal column , and shine black and livid stripes .
Queen Butterfly Caterpillar
Danaus gilippus , the scientific name for the QueenButterfly Caterpillar , has characteristic lily-livered dots on its sides and back in addition to black and white stripes . The head and tail have six enormous , meaty tentacles that are renowned . It can grow up to 5 cm longsighted and consumes mistflower , frogfruit , and milkweed plants . This cat , which changes into a stunning tabby butterfly stroke , is recognize by its dark and white stripes and yellow dots .
Black Swallowtail Caterpillar
Papilio polyxenes , scientifically known as the inglorious swallowtail caterpillar , is a Brobdingnagian gullible cat found in Utah that has unequaled black and yellow stripes surrounding each segment . It ’s not comprehend with spikes , spines , or horns like some Caterpillar are . Its fluid trunk and vibrant colors scare away prospective predators , who slip it for a threat . It feed on milkweed , carrot , Anethum graveolens , parsley , and fennel .
Monarch Caterpillar
The Utah - native Monarch Caterpillar , scientifically known as Danaus plexippus , is a stripy and horn cat with vivid icteric , white , and black markings all over its consistency . Each segment is identify by prominent bands of color , while the head and tail are mark by long smutty horns and shorter one , respectively . With fatal forelegs and clean dots on their prolegs , they can grow up to 5 cm . These caterpillars build up poisonous materials in their bodies because they only eat milkweed plants .
Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar
Citheronia regalis , the scientific name for the strange yet benign caterpillar know as the Hickory - Horned Devil , is found in Utah . Its bluish - green consistence is decorate with black points on curving , spiky horns , and it consumes sweetgum , walnut , hickory , and pecan leaves . easy identified by its frightening crimson horns and orange - red head , this tremendous bug pupates to become a gallant moth .
Stinging Rose Caterpillar
Scientifically known as Parasa indetermina , the Stinging Rose Caterpillar is a vivacious and vicious species that can be found from New York to Utah on the East Coast . Its unique feature admit jag spikes along the back that resemble horns and bunches of spines down the sides . Its consistency is yellow or orange - bolshie in color and is adorn with thin bands of purple stripes . Up to 2.5 cm in length , these caterpillars run through dogwood , poplars , hickories , oak tree , and rose bush as their nutrient source . Because of their poisonous spines , handling them should be done cautiously as it may cause hide irritation .
Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar
Euclea delphinii is the scientific name for the colorful , vicious cat known as the Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar . It is covered with acute spike heel . Four pairs of up - signal spiked orange tree horns and two orange bands with circular blank and unripe markings along the back are distinguishing characteristics . The venom in these spikes has the potential to irritate skin . Found on a variety of deciduous bush and trees , they eat the leaves of many different trees and shrubs , including blueberry , beech tree , poplar , sugarberry , oak , maple , and basswood .
Azalea Caterpillars
The scientific name for Azalea caterpillars is Datana major . They are smooth , black caterpillars from Utah with vivid gullible dance orchestra gird their plump , disastrous bodies . A rounded orange head and tail segment are among its striking characteristics . These ravening larva , which are distinguished by their unripened , black , and orange patterns , are grave to the leaves of oak , blueberry , and apple trees .
Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
Dione vanillae , the scientific name for the Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar , is distinguished by the spiky spikes surrounding its orangish segment . Grayish - dim stripe that run longitudinally over its back are another distinguishing trait that do it easy to identify . These caterpillars , which are found on passion flowers , have a suave orange body with prominent spines and blackish grade insignia .
Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
Papilio Troilus , the scientific name for the Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar , is a unique light-green Utah caterpillar with Brobdingnagian optic pattern on its head . Its colour change from brown to green to yellowish in the ultimate growing stage . Each section has singular orbitual form made of down color . Notably , eyespot marks on the skull are formed by black circle gird by yellowed halo . This caterpillar has distinct machine characteristic that help identify it ; it can be found on spicebush and sweet bay .
Redhumped Caterpillar
The name Schizura concinna , or Redhumped Caterpillar , comes from the red hump on its back . It is distinguished by its ruddy - pink circular head , feathery spines , soft horn - like increase , and stripe of sensationalistic and white . It go through the apricot , birch , almond , and apple trees . This Utah cat is well place by its unequaled trait , which include a shiny black physical structure brood in bands of prickly spikes .
Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar
Phoebis sennae , the scientific name for the Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar , is a pallid greenish caterpillar with black raised berth that form humble spines . The prolegs and abdomen have voiced xanthous vertebral column incubate them , and a wan chicken line running along its sides append another feature . These caterpillars , which are found on wild plants vulnerable to Maryland conditions , are discern by their unripe consistence with blue - black spots , light yellowish small spines , and a yellow sidelong chevron running along their sides .
Red Admiral Caterpillar
With fleshy spinal column and white battery-acid all over its body , the spiky sinister Red Admiral cat ( scientifically known as Vanessa atalanta ) is a caterpillar native to Utah . Caterpillars measuring up to 2.5 curium in length , they feast on sting nettle plants before change into a gray - brown tone with dots of dark red or brown along the side . Their characteristic yellow bodies with pitch-dark and white stripes are on full showing as they transform into eye - catching black and red butterflies following pupation .
Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
Papilio glaucus , the scientific name for the Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar , is a bland - bodied , dark unripe caterpillar with heart - like pattern on both sides of its head . Its demurrer mechanics on its head , which mimics a forked snake tongue and serve to frighten away possible risk , is toxic to birds and tiny animals . This caterpillar , which is find on light-green ash , sweet true laurel , black cherry tree , and Carolina ash Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , is tell apart by its dark immature abdomen and peculiar eye - like patterns .
Cecropia Moth Caterpillar
Hyalophora cecropia , the scientific name for the Cecropia Moth Caterpillar , is a huge , ridged metameric caterpillar found in Utah that has row of orangish and blue tubercles on it . Its black spikes contrast sharply with its lime - gullible consistency . These optic - catchinggreen caterpillars turn into stunning dark-brown moths , which are typically seen in April and May . you could spot them on ash , birch , box elder , alder , elm , maple , and poplar trees by looking for the visible segments that have lots of orange tubercles , black capitulum , and rows of blue and xanthous fleshy lumps .
Cabbage Looper Caterpillars
In Utah , the Cabbage Looper Caterpillars , or Trichoplusia ni as they are scientifically called , are common in the spring and summer . These omnivorous animals , which can be identified by their looping gait , have an incredible appetence and can rust up to three sentence their own weight unit each daylight . They can reach a length of 4 cm and consume wampum , tomato , soya , and capsicum pepper plant plants . Their organic structure are lime green or scandalmongering commons in gloss . When moving , their motion loops , making them stick out out .
Luna Moth Caterpillar
Actias luna , the scientific name for the Luna Moth Caterpillar , has a quicklime - green body with red dots on the back and tuft of tiny vertebral column . know to raise the front portion of their body when proceed , these caterpillar consume maple , birch , walnut , hickory , and American sweet chewing gum trees . Their large appetite has caused them to grow up to 9 cm long . They are distinguished by their brown chief , three distich of brown foreleg , and a brilliant red window pane transmission line that runs lengthways .
Forest Tent Caterpillars
The scientific name for the Utah caterpillar known as the Forest Tent Caterpillar is Malacosoma disstria . It has a dark body with yellow lines , blue dance orchestra on the side , and whitened spots . This caterpillar , which is easily seen in the outpouring and summer , is distinguish by the feathery back that run along its English . Its distinctive blackish - brown color and the lengthwise bands of blue , chickenhearted , and black on its back help discover it . It feeds on the leaves of willow , oak , birch , elm , andmaple treesrespectively .
Zebra Longwing Caterpillar
roll in the hay by its prescribed name Heliconius charithonia , the Zebra Longwing Caterpillar is a cat that is typically find in Utah and other Southern states . It has long , contraband , heavy spikes and is pale - grey in color . The caterpillar , which has delicate spines all over it , consumes passionflower plants and build up poisonous compound throughout its body . As a protective measure , the venom sacrifice predators a bad taste .
Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar
The scientific name for the Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar is Antheraea polyphemus . It is a light fleeceable cat with vivid red spots around each section that spins like silk . magisterial characteristics are plumpness and salient vertebral column protruding from red tubercles . Juvenile Caterpillar are brilliantyellow at first and progressively turn greenas they mature . recognition traits of this caterpillar include a smart immature translucent soundbox with rowing of scarlet window pane or silver spiky spots around its segments . It is found on apple , ash , birch , elm , hazel , maple , rose , and cornel Tree .
Evergreen Bagworm
In Utah , the Evergreen Bagworm is a calendered , dingy brownish or disgraceful cat that is a member of the Psychidae family . Its difficult - to - blot protective udder - like structure construct of tree leaf are its discover trait . Living inside their cocoon bags , these caterpillars infest and rapidly defoliate beautiful backyardtrees like pitch-dark locust , elm , maple , poplar , oak tree , and willow .
Yellow Forester Moth Caterpillar
Scientifically speak , the Yellow Forester Moth Caterpillar is a bright yellow or yellowish - green Utah caterpillar with rows of black spots on its back . It is a member of the Zygaenidae mob . It has prickly tufts on its side and back and consumes herbaceous plants , specially Carolina laurelcherry . These Caterpillar , which may reach a length of 12.5 centimetre , have strange superb icteric bodies with black assembly line lead down their slope and backs .
Long-Tailed Skipper Caterpillar
The Long - Tailed Skipper Caterpillar , scientifically appoint Urbanus genus Proteus , is a big green , slug - like cat with rings of yellow spots around the section and a sidelong greenish - yellowish origin along its back . Often call the bean leafroller , it has an orange - patterned tail and a dark , spherical head . Mature caterpillars acquire pinkish markings and turn a pale green color . A ball - like school principal , sensationalistic markings , and orange prolegs are characteristic that help identify this mintage , which is regain on beans , pea plant , hog peanut vine , and wisteria vine .
the great unwashed Who interpret This Also Read :
