Comments for
Green Inchworm (Soybean looper)

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Soybean looper
by: Moni

Elizabeth
Your description is really super and helps a lot with your caterpillar ID. Fall Cankerworms are the only true inchworms (family Geometridae) that have 3 prolegs. but the coloration of the head and real legs does not fit. Therefore, the next group that loop like inchworms are the loopers. They are another kind of moth.
Therefore I believe, Inchy is a soybean looper. See the photos here...note the dark true legs and on the head of the top caterpillar(soybean looper)...this looks like your photo. - http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegal/lepidoptera/soylooper/fourcaterpillars.html Here is another photo that is similar - http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1857014

Soybean loopers feed on a variety of plants (herbs), including soybeans, goldenrod, lettuce, sweet potato, and peanut. Commonly they are a pest on soybeans. Other hosts include cotton, tomato, brassicas (cabbage, kale, broccoli), pea, tobacco, and cocklebur.
They are found in eastern and central North America.
Larvae are green with whitish lines along the length of the body and three pair of fleshy prolegs. The body of the larvae is tapered from the rear (largest) forward to the head. Often the true legs and head are black.

They overwinter as pupae within loosely spun cocoons which are usually attached to plant debris. So, if you want to try to keep Inchy, feed it any of the listed plants, with foliage available to make a cocoon on. Once you have the cocoon you can put it in a smaller screen or cloth covered container. Then, you should put it out in a garage or protected area for the winter so it has as much "normal" winter conditions as possible(refrigerator may work but keep a little moisture in the container). Then in spring it will emerge "on time" - if in the fridge put outside as soon as weather moderates so moth can emerge in spring.

Not sure it is worth it for this insect pest, but go for it! Rearing is fun and challenging. Here is a website where several folks rear insects...look at links on right for caterpillar rearing. - http://www.buglifecycle.com

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