Hobbies And Interests
Azalea Caterpillar
Azalea caterpillars are so named because they feed almost exclusively on azaleas. Found throughout the southeast U.S., including Virginia, Florida and Mississippi, they are considered pests due to the damage that they do to flowers. They feed in groups and defoliate much of the azalea plant before they are detected. Young azalea caterpillars are red to brownish-black with yellow and white stripes. As they mature, they become black and have eight near-white horizontal broken stripes. From their beginning length of 10 millimeters, they grow to a length of 50 millimeters. Their legs and head are mahogany red. As a moth, they are light-brown and have a wingspan of 45 millimeters.
Redbud Leaffolder Caterpillar
Commonly found in the southern United States, redbud leaffolder caterpillars live on redbud trees. They often cause severe damage to redbud trees because they feed on the upper surfaces of leaves that they have folded and tied down with silk strands. Redbud leaffolder caterpillars may also tie the leaf onto another leaf or to other nearby surfaces. In severe cases, the leaf dries out, turns brown and dies. Young redbud leaffolder caterpillars are white but dark stripes start to appear as they age. Mature larvae are about one-half inch long and have alternating black and white stripes. They develop into a small moth that has dark brown wings with small white spots.
Monarch Caterpillar
Monarch caterpillars can be found throughout the U.S. Monarch caterpillars exclusively live on milkweed leaves. In the beginning, monarch caterpillars are about 2 millimeters long and are white with light yellow areas. Within two weeks, they grow to a length of 45 millimeters and have white, black and yellow stripes. They emerge as monarch butterflies after 10 to 14 days in a cocoon. Monarch butterflies have orange wings that have black stripes and white dots along the perimeter. During the winter, monarch butterflies in cold areas migrate to warmer southern locations such as Mexico, Florida, Cuba and southern California.
Convict Caterpillar
Within the U.S., convict caterpillars are located mostly in the southeast, from North Carolina and Texas down to Florida. They can be found on a variety of plants with bright flowers, such as spider lilies, irises and amaryllis. Convict caterpillars, which grow up to a length of 50 millimeters, are black with yellow-white or cream-white stripes. Its head, legs and posterior end are orange. They feed for about 17 days before entering the pupal stage. As adults, they are known as Spanish Moths. The Spanish Moth has rosy-pink and black forewings that are spotted orange along the veins.