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Leaves, Flowers and Grasses
Different caterpillars eat different things. Most eat leaves, but some eat flowers, grasses or bark. Some, such as the genus Eupithecia, even eat other insects. To know what the caterpillar is going to eat, you have to know about the caterpillar. Knowing where the caterpillar lives and what is around it will tell you a lot about its diet.
Look Where the Caterpillar Lives
To find out what a caterpillar eats, first look where it lives. If the caterpillar lives in an aspen, such as the mourning cloak, then it is probably going to eat aspen leaves. If it leaves on fennel or dill, such as the black swallowtail, then fennel and fill are also its food sources. Caterpillars move slowly, so the adult lays her eggs on the right type of plant limiting the travel the caterpillar needs to start eating.
Most Caterpillars are Beneficial
There are hundreds of species of caterpillars that eat a wide variety of plants. Most caterpillars do little damage to their host plant before turning into butterflies or moths that help pollinate flowers. Some caterpillars will only eat weeds. The Red Admiral only eats nettles, including stinging nettles.
Some Caterpillars are Bad
While most caterpillars are good to have around, some are not. The cabbage white feeds on cabbage and mustard, and can destroy crops. If you are going to catch and raise caterpillars, then release butterflies, make sure you know what species they are, so you know whether they are safe to release back into your environment.