Skip to main content
Today is World Environment Day!
Close

Wildlife Spotting

Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

33.0638, -117.067

Field Notes

Description:

Baby, black caterpillars with orange down the middle of the back. There are tufts of long, black hairs.

Habitat:

Salix tree along trail at Lake Hodges near ditch.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
CindyBinghamKeiser
Hi J, that's a great "shot in the dark'! This is only a few yards from where I've seen the Nevada Buck Moth the last couple years during the month of November. I spotted an older larvae the end of May: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/11446180
Jacob Gorneau
They look like very early Hemileucinae instars, but that's a shot in the dark.
CindyBinghamKeiser
Hi Karen, I didn't see any other than what's in these shots. I didn't see any eggs either but these are more mature than my other spotting that appear to have just emerged.
KarenL
These look like eastern tent caterpillars (Malacosoma americanum) http://facultyweb.cortland.edu/fitzgerald/Easterntent.htm Did you see any tent type webs in the trees?
CindyBinghamKeiser
The more I look at this series, the more I think there may be two different species based on the colors. Some seem all orange and some all black. Thoughts?

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Southern California Wildlife
Mission
Caterpillars and larvae of the World

Tags

Photographed
PublishedMarch 29, 2012

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies