Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Caterpillar ID help please
Date: Aug 14 10:01:48 2011
From: Mike Patterson - celata at pacifier.com


The two "horn-worm" shots are most probably _Hyles lineata_
the White-lined Sphinx Moth ( http://bugguide.net/node/view/3071 )
Just about every caterpillar with a hook at the rear end is
one kind of sphinx or another.

Fuzzy caterpillars are always more challenging because they are
a lot of different species and very few good references.
My best guess is _Hyphantria cunea_, Fall Webworm Moth
( http://bugguide.net/node/view/453 ), but it wouldn't surprise
me in the least if I got contradicted.

And for those with a need to explore moth ID further, a new(ish)
text is out _Moths of Western North America_ by Powell and Opler
(2009 University of California Press). It's a bit pricey, but
given that the previous book with this range of data (with photos)
was Hollands 1903 masterpiece _The Moth Book_, it's kind of worth
it.

Those looking for something in between are encouraged to look up
two Forest Service technical guides available on line (and possibly
as hard copies). Neither is a complete reference, but they have
most of the really common stuff.

Macromoths of Northwest Forests (FHTET-98-18)

and

Lepidoptera of the Pacific Northwest: caterpillars and adults
(FHTET-2003-03)

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
Hiding in plain sight
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/21721/