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American Lady Caterpillar
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American Snout Caterpillar
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Black Swallowtail Caterpillar
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Black Swallowtail Caterpillars
This symmetrical pair of Black Swallowtail caterpillars was on Rue in our herb garden. Young caterpillars at this stage have "saddles" on ther backs.
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Brown Elfin Caterpillar
It was recently learned that Brown Elfins populate parts of the Florida Panhandle. They feed on the flowers of Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia).
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Cassius Blue Caterpillar
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Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar
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Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar
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Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillars
Cloudless Sulphur caterpillars occur in several different colors and patterns.
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Common Buckeye Caterpillar
Common Buckeyes use many host plants in the Broomrape family (OROBANCHACEAE){formerly included in the SCROPHULARIACEAE or Snapdragon family) including the False Foxglove (Agalinis sp.).
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Common Buckeye Caterpillar
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Frosted Elfin Caterpillar
Frosted Elfin caterpillars seem to prefer to eat the flowers of its host plant, Sundal Lupine (Lupinus perennis).
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Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
This is a head-on view of the Giant Swallowtail caterpillar.
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Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
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Goatweed Leafwing Caterpillar
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Goatweed Leafwing Caterpillar
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Goatweed Leafwing Caterpillar
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Great Southern White Caterpillar
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Gulf Fritillary and Variegated Fritillary Caterpillars
The Gulf Fritillary (bottom) and Variegated Fritillary (top) both use Passionflower vines (Pasiflora spp.) as a host plant.
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Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
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Hackberry Emperor Caterpillar
The caterpillars of the Hackberry and Tawny Emperors are very similar. To distinguish the two species, look for the thicker stripes on the Tawny Emperor compared to the very thin lines on the Hackberry Emperor caterpillar.
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Harvester Caterpillar
Harvester caterpillar with aphids on green ash leaf
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Julia Caterpillar
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Little Metalmark Caterpillar
In north Florida, caterpillars of the Little Metalmark are found on the undersides of the basal leaves of Vanillaleaf (Carphephorus odoratissimus), their host plant.
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Little Yellow Caterpillar
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Malachite Caterpillar
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Miami Blue Caterpillar
The Miami Blue is near extinction in Florida due mostly to habitat loss. It is feared that several populations no longer exist. This Miami Blue caterpillar was reared in captivity in an effort to repopulate the species in south Florida. The captive rearing program currently has been suspended.
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Monarch Caterpillar in J Position
Most caterpillars travel away from their host plants to prepare for their metamorphosis into chrysalides (plural of chrysalis). This monarch caterpillar has chosen to form its chrysalis on the leaf of a Fireflag (Thalia geniculata)
View a video of a monarch caterpillar changing into a chrysalis.
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Monarch Caterpillar
The Queen caterpillar which mimics the Monarch caterpillar has an extra set of projections in the middle of the body.
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Orange-barred Sulphur Caterpillar
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Palamedes Swallowtail Caterpillar
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Pearl Crescent Caterpillar
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Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
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Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillars
Young pipevine caterpillars eating pipevine leaf
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Polydamas Swallowtail Caterpillar
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Polydamas Swallowtail Caterpillars
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Queen Caterpillar
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Question Mark Caterpillar
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Red Admiral Caterpillar
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Viceroy Caterpillar
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Ruddy Daggerwing Caterpillar
This gaudily colored caterpillar is feeding on the leaf of a strangler fig (Ficus sp.), its host plant.
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Silvery Checkerspot Caterpillars
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Sleepy Orange Caterpillar
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Sleepy Orange Caterpillar
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Southern Dogface Caterpillar
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Southern Pearlyeye Caterpillar
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Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillars make a "nest" inside leaves. This one is in a sassafras leaf.
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Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
This cute caterpillar has won two photo contests.
