Q: I have a strange ‘critter’ that was eating my gladiola leaves and I need to find a place to identify it. It is a “worm” type…like a tomato worm… It is about 3/4 inch long, fat, chartreuse and a deep, rich brown.
It has a dark brown oval outlined in white on its back. “Fuzzy looking” horns, 2 on each end on a slant out of its body. There are white dots and lines on each end, but the “mouth part” is nearly magenta in color.
I have it in a plastic clear container, and have been saving it for the neighbor’s Grandson to take to school.. I clean the container each morning and put a drop of moisture in and fresh gladiola leaf tips…It is still alive and eating and has been in the container for 4 days. Please tell me what it is or some place that I can go to on Internet to find out…
Is it a butterfly type? I will put it back on the glads!!!
A: You better not touch it!
You have a saddleback caterpillar. The spines at the ends of the body will STING if you touch them.
Related Articles:
- Spiny Oak Slug – Poisonous Caterpillar Q: I have encountered a tomato plant pest that I have not...
- June Beetle – Grubs in Pool Q: We have a sixty acre farm, a 4 acre fenced yard...
- Artillery Fungus – Identification Q: We have a lovely patio in our backyard that borders a...
- Japanese Maple – Long Shoots Q: My Japanese maple hasn’t grown at all in two years since...
