47 Amazing Types of Florida Caterpillars (With Pictures)

Exploring the Fascinating World of Florida Caterpillars

Florida, with its diverse ecosystems and warm climate, is home to a wide variety of caterpillar species. These caterpillars exhibit an array of colors, patterns, and behaviors, making them intriguing subjects for study and observation. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the captivating world of Florida caterpillars, detailing their appearance, habitat, notable features, and interesting facts.

1. American Dagger Moth Caterpillar (Acronicta americana)

• Appearance: Covered in fine white hairs with a yellowish body and distinct black tufts.
• Habitat: Found throughout North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Has a unique appearance with tufts of hair that resemble daggers.
• Interesting Fact: When disturbed, American dagger moth caterpillars may retract their heads and expose their brightly colored underbellies as a defense mechanism.

2. Azalea Caterpillars (Datana major)

• Appearance: Bright green with a series of black stripes and red markings.
• Habitat: Feeds on azalea and blueberry bushes, common in Florida.
• Notable Features: Group behavior; they often cluster together on host plants.
• Interesting Fact: Azalea caterpillars are known for their voracious appetite and can defoliate plants.

3. Banded Woolly Bear Caterpillar (Pyrrharctia isabella)

• Appearance: Banded with black and reddish-brown segments.
• Habitat: Found across North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Believed by some to predict winter weather based on the thickness of their bands.
• Interesting Fact: Banded woolly bear caterpillars are known for their cold tolerance and can survive freezing temperatures.

4. Black and Orange Florida Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar (Agraulis vanillae)

• Appearance: Vibrant orange with black spines and bands.
• Habitat: Common in Florida, especially on passionflower vines.
• Notable Features: Gulf fritillary caterpillars are toxic due to their diet.
• Interesting Fact: These caterpillars are often seen feeding in groups on passionflower leaves.

5. Black Swallowtail Caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes)

• Appearance: Black with bright green bands and orange spots.
• Habitat: Found throughout North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Resemble bird droppings in their early instars, acting as camouflage.
• Interesting Fact: Black swallowtail caterpillars are known for their unique osmeterium, a defense organ that emits a foul odor.

6. Buck Moth Caterpillar (Hemileuca maia)

• Appearance: Black with orange bands and spines.
• Habitat: Common in eastern North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Can deliver a painful sting if handled.
• Interesting Fact: Buck moth caterpillars are known for their spiky appearance and bright warning colors.

7. Cabbage Looper Caterpillars (Trichoplusia ni)

• Appearance: Green with white stripes along their sides.
• Habitat: Found in various habitats, including gardens and farms.
• Notable Features: Looping movement while crawling, giving them their name.
• Interesting Fact: Cabbage looper caterpillars are considered agricultural pests, often damaging cabbage and other cruciferous crops.

8. Cecropia Moth Caterpillar (Hyalophora cecropia)

• Appearance: Large, green, and covered in tiny white spots and spines.
• Habitat: Native to North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: One of North America’s largest caterpillars.
• Interesting Fact: Cecropia moth caterpillars spin large, silk cocoons in which they pupate.

9. Common Pine Sawfly Caterpillar (Diprion similis)

• Appearance: Green with black stripes and a series of small white spots.
• Habitat: Often found on pine trees in North America.
• Notable Features: Sawfly larvae that resemble caterpillars in appearance and behavior.
• Interesting Fact: Common pine sawfly caterpillars are not true caterpillars but the larvae of sawflies.

10. Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)

• Appearance: Black with blue markings and prominent white stripes.
• Habitat: Common in eastern North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Create silk tents in trees for protection and communal living.
• Interesting Fact: Eastern tent caterpillars are social insects and display interesting group behaviors.

11. Eight-spotted Forester Caterpillar (Alypia octomaculata)

• Appearance: Black with white spots and bright orange markings.
• Habitat: Found in woodlands and gardens across North America.
• Notable Features: Eight prominent white spots on their wings.
• Interesting Fact: Eight-spotted forester caterpillars become striking moths with colorful wings.

12. Evergreen Bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis)

• Appearance: Bag-shaped case made of silk and plant material, with the caterpillar hidden inside.
• Habitat: Common on evergreen trees and shrubs.
• Notable Features: Bagworm caterpillars construct elaborate cases for camouflage and protection.
• Interesting Fact: Bagworm caterpillars are rarely seen outside their protective cases.

13. Fall Webworm Moth (Hyphantria cunea)

• Appearance: Yellow with black markings and long white hairs.
• Habitat: Found in various habitats, including shade trees and shrubs.
• Notable Features: Create conspicuous silk webs on tree branches.
• Interesting Fact: Fall webworm caterpillars are known for their communal webs.

14. Florida Red Admiral Caterpillar (Vanessa atalanta)

• Appearance: Black with white spots and bright red-orange bands.
• Habitat: Common in Florida and North America.
• Notable Features: Resemble bird droppings in their early instars, acting as camouflage.
• Interesting Fact: Florida red admiral caterpillars feed on stinging nettles.

15. Florida Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar (Papilio glaucus)

• Appearance: Green with black stripes and yellow-orange markings.
• Habitat: Found throughout North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Resemble bird droppings in their early instars, acting as camouflage.
• Interesting Fact: Florida tiger swallowtail caterpillars are known for their mimicry and use of camouflage.

16. Forest Tent Caterpillars (Malacosoma disstria)

• Appearance: Black with blue markings and prominent white stripes.
• Habitat: Common in North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Create communal silk tents in trees for protection.
• Interesting Fact: Forest tent caterpillars can defoliate trees during outbreaks.

17. Giant Leopard Caterpillar (Hypercompe scribonia)

• Appearance: Fuzzy, black with bright yellow bands and red spots.
• Habitat: Native to North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Striking coloration and unique appearance.
• Interesting Fact: Giant leopard caterpillars are often mistaken for poisonous species.

18. Green Florida Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar (Phoebis sennae)

• Appearance: Bright green with a series of black dots and stripes.
• Habitat: Common in Florida and the southeastern United States.
• Notable Features: Bright green coloration for camouflage.
• Interesting Fact: Green Florida cloudless sulphur caterpillars feed on leguminous plants.

19. Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar (Agraulis vanillae)

• Appearance: Vibrant orange with black spines and bands.
• Habitat: Common in Florida, especially on passionflower vines.
• Notable Features: Gulf fritillary caterpillars are toxic due to their diet.
• Interesting Fact: These caterpillars are often seen feeding in groups on passionflower leaves.

20. Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar (Citheronia regalis)

• Appearance: Large, green with intimidating black spines and curved horns.
• Habitat: Found in eastern North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: One of North America’s largest and most striking caterpillars.
• Interesting Fact: Hickory horned devil caterpillars are not aggressive despite their appearance.

21. Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae)

• Appearance: White with black tufts and bright red spots.
• Habitat: Common in North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Warning coloration to deter predators.
• Interesting Fact: Hickory tussock moth caterpillars are known for their stinging hairs.

22. Imperial Moth Caterpillar (Eacles imperialis)

• Appearance: Green with a series of blue and white bands.
• Habitat: Native to North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Large and distinctive appearance.
• Interesting Fact: Imperial moth caterpillars are often sought after by collectors.

23. Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella)

• Appearance: Fuzzy, black with orange bands and tufts of hair.
• Habitat: Widespread across North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Known for their distinctive “woolly bear” appearance.
• Interesting Fact: Isabella tiger moth caterpillars are believed to predict winter weather based on their appearance.

24. Lo Moth Caterpillar (Automeris io)

• Appearance: Green with a series of blue and white bands.
• Habitat: Found in eastern North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Eye-like spots on their wings.
• Interesting Fact: Lo moth caterpillars have stinging spines for defense.

25. Long-tailed Skipper Caterpillar (Urbanus proteus)

• Appearance: Green with a series of black and white stripes.
• Habitat: Common in Florida and the southeastern United States.
• Notable Features: Long tail-like projections.
• Interesting Fact: Long-tailed skipper caterpillars are known for their rapid movements.

26. Luna Moth Caterpillar (Actias luna)

• Appearance: Bright green with a series of purple lines and tiny spines.
• Habitat: Native to North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Distinctive appearance and vibrant colors.
• Interesting Fact: Luna moth caterpillars spin silk cocoons and undergo a stunning transformation into beautiful moths.

27. Milkweed Tiger Caterpillar (Euchaetes egle)

• Appearance: Black with clusters of orange tufts of hair.
• Habitat: Common in North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Part of the “woolly bear” group known for their dense hair-like setae.
• Interesting Fact: Milkweed tiger caterpillars feed on milkweed plants and sequester toxins for protection.

28. Milkweed Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle)

• Appearance: Black with clusters of orange tufts of hair.
• Habitat: Common in North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Part of the “woolly bear” group known for their dense hair-like setae.
• Interesting Fact: Milkweed tussock moth caterpillars feed on milkweed plants and sequester toxins for protection.

29. Monarch Caterpillar (Danaus plexippus)

• Appearance: Bright green with black, yellow, and white stripes.
• Habitat: Found throughout North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Iconic and easily recognizable as a monarch butterfly larva.
• Interesting Fact: Monarch caterpillars are well-known for their incredible migrations.

30. Monkey Slug Caterpillars (Phobetron pithecium)

• Appearance: Bizarre and slug-like, with a hairy body and bright colors.
• Habitat: Found in eastern North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Resemble tiny, colorful slugs.
• Interesting Fact: Monkey slug caterpillars are not true slugs but insects with a unique appearance.

31. Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar (Battus philenor)

• Appearance: Black with striking orange spots and patterns.
• Habitat: Found in various regions of North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Pipevine swallowtail caterpillars feed on pipevine plants and are toxic to predators.
• Interesting Fact: When disturbed, pipevine swallowtail caterpillars may retract their heads and expose their brightly colored underbellies as a defense mechanism.

32. Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar (Antheraea polyphemus)

• Appearance: Large and green with a series of blue and yellow bands.
• Habitat: Native to North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Named after Polyphemus, the one-eyed giant from Greek mythology.
• Interesting Fact: Polyphemus moth caterpillars spin large, silk cocoons and are known for their large, eye-like markings.

33. Queen Butterfly Caterpillar (Danaus gilippus)

• Appearance: Bright green with black, yellow, and white stripes.
• Habitat: Common in Florida and North America.
• Notable Features: Resemble monarch caterpillars but lack the monarch’s toxicity.
• Interesting Fact: Queen butterfly caterpillars are often found on milkweed, just like monarchs.

34. Redhumped Caterpillar (Schizura concinna)

• Appearance: Green with a prominent red hump on the back.
• Habitat: Common in North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Distinctive red hump on the thorax.
• Interesting Fact: Redhumped caterpillars are known for their peculiar appearance and feed on a variety of deciduous trees.

35. Regal Moth Caterpillar (Citheronia regalis)

• Appearance: Large, green with intimidating black spines and curved horns.
• Habitat: Found in eastern North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: One of North America’s largest and most striking caterpillars.
• Interesting Fact: Regal moth caterpillars are not aggressive despite their appearance.

36. Saddleback Caterpillar (Acharia stimulea)

• Appearance: Green with a prominent brown saddle-shaped marking and venomous spines.
• Habitat: Found in eastern North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Venomous spines that can cause skin irritation.
• Interesting Fact: Saddleback caterpillars are known for their painful stings when touched.

37. Southern Flannel Caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis)

• Appearance: Fluffy and grayish with a series of colorful stripes and venomous spines.
• Habitat: Common in the southeastern United States, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Extremely venomous spines that can cause severe pain.
• Interesting Fact: Southern flannel caterpillars are among the most venomous caterpillars in North America.

38. Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar (Papilio troilus)

• Appearance: Green with a series of black, yellow, and blue markings.
• Habitat: Found in various regions of North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Resemble bird droppings in their early instars, acting as camouflage.
• Interesting Fact: Spicebush swallowtail caterpillars feed on spicebush and sassafras leaves.

39. Spiny Elm Caterpillar (Nymphalis antiopa)

• Appearance: Dark with spines and a series of blue and white bands.
• Habitat: Common in North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Resemble bird droppings in their early instars, acting as camouflage.
• Interesting Fact: Spiny elm caterpillars are known for their distinctive appearance and spiky spines.

40. Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar (Euclea delphinii)

• Appearance: Green with spines and a series of blue and white bands.
• Habitat: Found in eastern North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Resemble bird droppings in their early instars, acting as camouflage.
• Interesting Fact: Spiny oak slug caterpillars feed on oak leaves and have stinging spines for defense.

41. Stinging Rose Caterpillar (Parasa indetermina)

• Appearance: Covered in dense yellowish or greenish hair with black bands.
• Habitat: Found in various regions of North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Venomous spines that can cause skin irritation.
• Interesting Fact: Stinging rose caterpillars are known for their painful stings when touched.

42. Tobacco Hornworm Caterpillar (Manduca sexta)

• Appearance: Green with a series of white diagonal stripes and a distinctive curved “horn.”
• Habitat: Common in North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: The horn on their rear end, which is not a stinger.
• Interesting Fact: Tobacco hornworms are often found on tobacco and tomato plants.

43. Tomato Hornworm Caterpillar (Manduca quinquemaculata)

• Appearance: Green with a series of white diagonal stripes and a distinctive curved “horn.”
• Habitat: Common in North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: The horn on their rear end, which is not a stinger.
• Interesting Fact: Tomato hornworms are often found on tomato plants and closely resemble tobacco hornworms.

44. White Admiral Caterpillar (Limenitis arthemis)

• Appearance: Green with a series of white stripes and black markings.
• Habitat: Found in various regions of North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Striking white stripes and patterns on a green background.
• Interesting Fact: White admiral caterpillars are known for their beautiful adult butterflies.

45. White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma)

• Appearance: White with a series of black dots and distinctive tufts of hair.
• Habitat: Common in eastern North America, including Florida.
• Notable Features: Prominent tufts of hair and warning coloration.
• Interesting Fact: White-marked tussock moth caterpillars are known for their stinging hairs.

46. Yellow Florida Forester Moth Caterpillar (Eupithecia miserulata)

• Appearance: Green with a series of yellow and black markings.
• Habitat: Common in Florida and the southeastern United States.
• Notable Features: Resemble bird droppings in their early instars, acting as camouflage.
• Interesting Fact: Yellow Florida forester moth caterpillars are known for their camouflage and unique behavior.

47. Zebra Longwing Butterfly (Heliconius charithonia)

• Appearance: Bright yellow with distinctive black stripes.
• Habitat: Common in Florida and Central America.
• Notable Features: Striking appearance and communal roosting behavior.
• Interesting Fact: Zebra longwing caterpillars are the host species for the zebra longwing butterfly.

Summary

These diverse Florida caterpillars demonstrate the incredible variety of colors, patterns, and behaviors found in the world of insects. Each caterpillar plays a unique role in its ecosystem and contributes to the rich biodiversity of Florida’s natural landscapes. Observing these fascinating creatures can provide valuable insights into the interconnected web of life that surrounds us.