Comments for
blue spikey caterpillar with orange spots and legs (Cloak butterfly larva)

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whoa!
by: Anonymous

there are like 30 of them climbing up a tree right next to my house and they are all falling in the drive way :( poor things, i moved them to the side where there are things to eat
Mourningcloak butterfly larva
by: Moni

Nicholas
They are not dangerous. Thanks for looking up what you found! See the website below for more pictures and information.
You can share the information with your friends as well as what I wrote below in the original comment - They feed on willows,poplars, elm, hackberry, and birch.
According to Wagner's Caterpillars of E. North America, eggs are laid in clusters around a twig. "The larvae remain together until they are fully-fed and finally move off their foodplant to pupate - they may even leave more or less en masse."
Adults overwinter in woodpiles, sheltered site or sheds.

Here are more pictures of the butterfly and the caterpillar
http://bugguide.net/node/view/3188/bgimage?from=24
Caterpillar
by: Nicholas

Me and my classmates found like 5 of these on a small tree while on a little 5th grade picknick and tow of us(one of them is me) took one home. They're really wierd the spikes dont hert but are they dangerous?
three spikey caterpillars
by: Kimberly

We had these in 2007 right at memorial Day weekend, but haven't seen any since. At that time I couldn't find info on the web, and the cty extension didn't recognize my description. They said to bring it in, but it rained for the next several days and we couldn't find any after the rains. Today, we've found 3 within a half hour in the back yard. Only trees nearby are maple, crabapple and mulberry.
Thank You
by: Ashley Fowler

Moni, Thank you for the information! We will leave them alone.
Morningcloak butterfly larva
by: Moni

Cindy
As mentioned in the comment section below - "The larvae remain together until they are fully-fed and finally move off their foodplant to pupate - they may even leave more or less en masse."
So, perhaps your caterpillars are ready to pupate!
Let us know!

Read more: http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com/blue-spikey-caterpillar-with-orange-spots-and-legs-cloak-butterfly-larva-comments.html#ixzz0lwQwmTJM
Cindy in Carrollton, TX
by: Anonymous

I have about 10-15 of these crawling up the north side of my house. There are plenty of shrubs around that they could have been sheltering in. I've never seen anything like it before.
We found this insect in So CAL
by: Shannon McCann

We live in San Diego and sound this in our back yard. We were trying to identify it and found your website. The kids were alarmed by the spikes, but the picture was a great help. I'm so glad this site was available. Thank you.
caterpillar
by: kate

what kind of caterpillar is this it's under my deck in a j he's about to go into it's cacoon.
Mourning Cloak butterfly larva
by: Moni

Bill
You have found Mourning Cloak butterfly larva. They feed on willows,poplars, elm, hackberry, and birch.
According to Wagner's Caterpillars of E. North America, eggs are laid in clusters around a twig. "The larvae remain together until they are fully-fed and finally move off their foodplant to pupate - they may even leave more or less en masse."
Adults overwinter in woodpiles, sheltered site or sheds.
Evidently you happened on the right place at the right time to see these! The butterfly is one of my favorites. Great find!

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