Common Caterpillars

We love watching butterflies! Getting to know butterflies and moths is fun, but it can be difficult at times and frustrating as you try to learn new ones. Likewise, identifying caterpillars (larvae) can be overwhelming.

Butterfly caterpillars come in all shapes and colors! Some are green, some are black. Some have stripes, others have spikes and horns. They might be fuzzy, or smooth, thin or plump.

We have written this article showcasing some of the common caterpillars you may see in your home gardens.

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar
Read about the Black Swallowtail

Anise Swallowtail Caterpillar
Read about the Anise Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
Read about the Spicebush Swallowtail

Old World Swallowtail Caterpillar
Read about the Old World Swallowtail

Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
Read about the Giant Swallowtail

Monarch Caterpillar
Read about the Monarch Butterfly

Queen Caterpillar
Read about the Queen Butterfly

Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
Read about the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Variegated Fritillary Caterpillar
Read about the Variegated Fritillary Butterfly

Mourning Cloak Caterpillar
Read about the Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Painted Lady Caterpillar
Read about the Painted Lady Butterfly

American Lady Caterpillar
Read about the American Lady Butterfly

Common Buckeye Caterpillar
Read about the Common Buckeye

Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)
Read about the Cecropia Moth

Luna Moth (Actias luna)
Read about the Luna Moth

Io Moth (Automeris io)
Read about the Io Moth

Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti)
Read about Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Weidemeyer's Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii)
Read about Weidemeyer's Admiral

White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)
Read about the White-lined Sphinx Moth

Eastern Tent Caterpillar

Fall Webworm Caterpillar

Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar (Xylophanes tersa)
Read about the Tersa Sphinx Moth

Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar (Xylophanes tersa) ... Another instar (brown) of the Tersa Sphinx caterpillar

Imperial Moth Caterpillar
Read about the Imperial Moth

Azalea Caterpillar

Is It a Black Swallowtail, Monarch, or Queen Caterpillar?

The caterpillars of the Black Swallowtail, Monarch and Queen all feature white, yellow and black markings. But which one are you seeing? Check the images below for the differences between the three caterpillars.

Comparison between the Monarch, Queen and Black Swallowtail caterpillars Butterflies at Home

Learn more about caterpillars and butterflies ... popular books at our Amazon Store

Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies
of North America

Peterson First Guide to Butterflies and Moths of North America

The Life Cycles of Butterflies

Stoke's Beginner's Guide to Butterflies

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