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caterpillar with purple underbelly (Catocala underwing moth caterpillar)

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I have one too!!
by: Amy from MD!!

HI there everyone! Thanks for helping figure out what this thing was. It was on my back step and almost got smooshed but i saved him :-) He is funny if you poke him (gently) he wiggles all over the place LOL I am thinking of keeping him if the hubby will let me hehe i just need to know what they eat?? So i am going to do some more research! Thanks again guys!!! P.S. I am in Southern Maryland :-)
Catocala caterpillar
by: Moni

Becky
Since you are from SC there should be some leaves on the deciduous trees by now. Try putting a few tree leaves in from various trees to see which one it likes the most. Then you can keep feeding it that type of leaf.

If you found it on a particular tree, then that is the tree leaves to feed it.
caterpillar
by: becky (sc)

i have the same caterpiller and it's in a jar . i thought it was a very iregular breed of caterpillar and i was wondering what to put in the jar for it.I am going to keep it until the end of spring break and show him to my 7th grade science teacher.
Catocala underwing moth caterpillar
by: Moni

Melissa
Think I have found your caterpillar!! It is one of the Catocala underwing moth caterpillars. Please look at these photos and see what you think.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/183149/bgimage

This genus of moth caterpillars feed on deciduous trees and are found through out most of North America. They are not a pest.
The moths are not as large as the big silk moths but are larger than most that we see.
Let us know if this fits your caterpillar?
caterpillar
by: Anonymous

i have heard some things about these caterpillars being called indian caters but ive also heard of them being called dogwood caterpillars but they come out as moths
Unknown caterpillar needs identification
by: Teacher

I found the same one in NW CT. It is gray with black markings. It has a purple underbelly. It was very active when touched. It wriggled all over. it then covered itself with a leaf and made a very slim white crysalis around it. Can't identify it either. I thought it was a butterfly because it didn't have any hair on its body.
Moth Caterpillar
by: Moni

Melissa
Not sure which caterpillar you have. There are thousands of brownish gray caterpillars and most photos do not show the underbelly. Do you have a photo of the top or side view?
Since you have the pupa hopefully it will turn into the moth soon and you can take a photo of the moth and send it to us for a positive ID.
Once the moth has fully emerged(give it a stick to climb on to fill out its wings) then while it is quiet try to get a photo...if it is too active you can put it in the fridge for a few minutes to slow it down to get the picture.

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