Hobbies And Interests
Trees
Several species of caterpillars feed on tree leaves. The slug caterpillar, which is the larva of the hag moth, feeds on a variety of trees and shrubs, including apple, dogwood, oak, hickory and willow trees. It is brown and hairy, and approximately 1/2 inch in length. The saddleback caterpillar, which is slightly larger than the slug caterpillar, also feeds on trees and can be easily identified by its brown color and the hornlike protrusions from its head. Both caterpillar species are capable of stinging and are distributed throughout the United States.
Detritus
Detritus is decaying organic material like skin cells. The larvae of the clothes moth, a common household pest, feeds on detritus found in clothing, carpets and other common household items. Most species of clothes moth caterpillars are smooth and white, but a few are translucent with small, hairlike protrusions from their bodies.
Fruit
Numerous species of caterpillars feed on fruit and nectar. Many of these larvae swarm into feeding groups, quickly destroying an entire garden and eating many times their own weight. The hornworm is among the best-known of these caterpillars. It is small and green with faint white stripes and fine hairs protruding from its body. Hornworms exist in most areas in the United States and develop into moths who feed solely on nectar.
Insects
A few species of caterpillars eat other insects. The larvae of euthipecia moths are native to Hawaii and prey on other caterpillars. They are green or yellow, with spiny hornlike protrusions covering their bodies. A newly discovered species of caterpillar, Hyposmocoma molluscivora, also lives in Hawaii. It spins tiny silk threads to capture and eat snails. They are less than 1 centimeter long and are normally a mottled gray color with fine hairs extending from their bodies.