The Striking Beauty of Vivid Red Caterpillars
Red caterpillars stand out against the green foliage, their vivid coloration acting as a warning to predators. While many people consider caterpillars to be plain and dull, there exist over 350 species of red caterpillars in North America alone. Ranging from bright crimson to deep maroon, these little creatures are far from drab.
In this article, we will explore 15 of the most stunning red caterpillars found across the United States We will look at their key characteristics, typical host plants, and the moths or butterflies they eventually transform into
Red Caterpillars Use Color as a Defense
Many red caterpillars contain toxins absorbed from their host plants making them distasteful or even poisonous to predators. Their bright coloration serves as a warning sign to birds and other animals that might consider them as a tasty snack. By being so vividly red the caterpillars say “don’t eat me, I’m dangerous!”
This form of warning coloration is known as aposematic coloration. As young caterpillars are most vulnerable to attack, it makes sense that many species are red only in their early larval stages. As they mature, some darken in color to better blend in with tree bark and dirt as they pupate.
15 Striking Red Caterpillar Species
- Faithful Beauty Caterpillar
The aptly named Faithful Beauty caterpillar is a bright rusty-red color with a few scattered black spots along its back. Native to Florida and the West Indies, it feeds on dogbane plants. The adult moth has striking blue and black wings with red accents.
- Pin-Striped Vermillion Slug Moth Caterpillar
Starting out green, this caterpillar turns completely red-brown by its final growth stage. It loves eating the leaves of oak, pecan, and cherry trees. The mature moth is a subtle brown color.
- Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
In southern states, this caterpillar is a vivid red, while in other regions it is black with red dots. As its name suggests, it feeds exclusively on pipevine plants.
- Splendid Royal Moth Caterpillar
This large caterpillar from Arizona changes colors as it grows, going from green to red to almost black. It blends in with dirt as it burrows underground to pupate. The adult moth has red wings.
- Henry’s Elfin Caterpillar
Tiny but striking, this species has a bright red body with two white stripes. It munches on redbud and dahoon plants in Texas. The adult moth is brown.
- White-blotched Prominent Caterpillar
This caterpillar goes through a range of colors including green, red, purple, and pink. It is a minor pest of oak trees. The mature moth is brown and white.
- Stinging Rose Caterpillar
This prickly caterpillar is green, then yellow, then red. It has spikes on its back for defense. You’ll find it on rose bushes, fruit trees, maples, and oaks.
- Drab Prominent Caterpillar
Despite its humble name, the drab prominent caterpillar stuns in its red phase with pink pinstripes down its back. It favors eating poplar and cottonwood leaves.
- Cactus Moth Caterpillar
This orangey-red caterpillar with black stripes feeds inside prickly pear cacti. It was introduced in Florida to control invasive cactus species.
- Atala Caterpillar
This bright red caterpillar eats palm plants in southern Florida and the Caribbean. It absorbs toxins from its host for defense. The adult Atala butterfly is also red.
- Walnut Caterpillar
This species is red-brown at first, darkening over time. A pest of walnut trees, it can completely defoliate branches. The mature moth is beige.
- Oslar’s Oakworm
Feeding in groups on live oak trees, these maroon caterpillars can severely damage foliage. Their mottled brown adult moths don’t eat at all!
- Clear Dagger Caterpillar
This aptly named caterpillar stays red-brown throughout its entire development. It nibbles on the leaves of ash, cherry, and apple trees.
- Goat Moth Caterpillar
Reaching up to 4 inches long, this caterpillar bores deep inside oak trees and has a red body with yellow sides. It has a remarkably long, 5-year lifecycle!
- Polydamas Swallowtail Caterpillar
A spectacular bright red critter with orange bumps on its back, this caterpillar only feeds on pipevines. The adult butterfly is black and yellow.
The Striking Beauty of Red Caterpillars
While many caterpillars tend to blend in with their surroundings, red caterpillars boldly announce their presence through their vivid scarlet hues. These little larvae may be toxin-filled and dangerous, but they sure are beautiful.
Next time you come across a red caterpillar munching away on a leaf, take a moment to appreciate its unique appearance. It may not be around for long before it pupates and transforms into a drab moth or butterfly. Cherish its brilliance while it lasts!
How to identify caterpillars
A caterpillar is the larval stage of a moth or butterfly. It is the second part of their four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Many caterpillars look very different as they grow, so weve described the larger stages of the caterpillars growth when theyre often more obvious. Some are easily spotted on their favourite food plants. Here are some of the species youre likely to see!
When & where: August-June. A variety of habitats including gardens, but especially damp grassland, marshes and boggy areas.
Description: Up to 7 cm long. Dark and covered with brown hairs and golden speckles. A row of white hairs runs down each side of the body.
Drinker moth caterpillar ©Chris Lawrence
Drinker moth caterpillar ©Tom Marshall
Drinker caterpillar © Guy Edwardes/2020VISION
Young drinker caterpillar © Vaughn Matthews
When & where: June-April, most obvious in spring. Often heathland and coastal grassland.
Description: Up to 7 cm long. Hairy, with long dark hairs on the sides of the body and shorter orange hairs on top. Young caterpillars are dark with orange bands.
Fox moth caterpillar ©David Longshaw
Fox moth caterpillar by Tom Hibbert
Fox moth caterpillar by David Longshaw
Early instar fox moth caterpillar © Frank Porch
When & where: August-June. A variety of habitats including grassland, heathland, fens, and hedgerows. Often found crawling across paths in spring.
Description: Young caterpillars in late summer and autumn are small and bluish with orange diamond patterns. More obvious in spring, when caterpillars are large and extremely furry, with long, orange-brown hairs. There are black bands between each body segment, and white dashes on each side.
Oak eggar caterpillar © Tom Hibbert
Oak eggar caterpillar © Frank Porch
Oak eggar caterpillar © Vaughn Matthews
Early instar oak eggar caterpillar © Frank Porch
Early instar oak eggar caterpillar © Frank Porch
When & where: August-June. A wide range of habitats including gardens.
Description: Up to 6 cm long. An extremely hairy caterpillar, known as the “woolly bear”. Mostly black and ginger, with longer white hairs.
Garden tiger caterpillar © Frank Porch
Garden tiger caterpillar ©Amy Lewis
Garden tiger caterpillar © Faye Davies
Garden tiger caterpillar © Brian Eversham
When & where: July-September. Found on ragwort in most grassy habitats.
Description: The caterpillars of this moth are distinctive, with black and yellow stripes – warning predators that they taste terrible. Theyre easily spotted feeding on ragwort.
Cinnabar moth caterpillar ©Andrew Hankinson
Cinnabar caterpillars © Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography
Cinnabar caterpillar © Niall Benvie/2020VISION
When & where: June-September. A variety of habitats, including gardens. Often where rosebay willowherb is found.
Description: Up to 8.5 cm long. A chunky green or brown caterpillar, with several eyespots at the front end and a spiky tail at the rear.
Elephant hawk-moth caterpillar ©Dawn Monrose
Elephant hawk-moth caterpillar © Tom Hibbert
Elephant hawk-moth caterpillar © Vaughn Matthews
Elephant hawk-moth caterpillar © Tom Hibbert
When & where: July to September. Widespread in southern England and Wales. Found in a variety of habitats, including gardens.
Description: Up to 8.5cm long. Green and chunky, with purple and white stripes on the body and a black and yellow horn on the rear.
Privet hawk-moth caterpillar ©Roy Bedborough
When & where: June to September. Widespread in a variety of habitats, including parks, gardens and wetlands. They feed on poplars and willows.
Description: Recently hatched caterpillars are tiny and black, with two long, whip-like tails. Older caterpillars are plump and green, with a dark, white-edged saddle. The head is surrounded by a pink patch, with false eyes making it look like a giant face. They still have two thin tails. When theyre fully fed and ready to pupate, they turn a purplish colour.
Puss moth caterpillar ©Vaughn Matthews
Puss moth caterpillar © Vaughn Matthews
Puss moth caterpillar © Tom Hibbert
Newly hatched puss moth caterpillars © Frank Porch
When & where: April-July. A range of open habitats, including gardens. Feeds on mulleins and buddleia.
Description: Distinctive whitish caterpillars, with yellow splodges across the body and large black spots.
Mullein caterpillar © Frank Porch
Mullein moth caterpillar ©Chris Lawrence
Mullein caterpillar © Frank Porch
Mullein caterpillar © Frank Porch
When & where: August-June. Scrubby habitats including hedgerows, woodland and gardens.
Description: Black with long, greyish-white hairs. On top it has a pair of red lines, with a row of white blotches either side of them. A red line runs along each side. The hairs can be an irritant.
Yellow-tail moth caterpillar ©Chris Lawrence
Yellow-tail caterpillar © Tom Hibbert
Yellow-tail caterpillar © Tom Hibbert
When & where: August-May. Scrubby habitats, including coastal scrub.
Description: Black with long brown hairs, two red spots on top and a line of white marks along each side. Found in conspicuous communal webs on food plants. The hairs cause skin irritation.
Brown-tail moth caterpillar © Tom Hibbert
Young brown-tail caterpillar © Chris Lawrence
Brown-tail caterpillar © Frank Porch
When & where: June-October. Grasslands, wetlands, heathlands, open woodlands, and coastal habitats.
Description: Black with brown hairs. Row of alternating red spots and lines on top, with a line of white dashes either side. Row of spots and dashes on each side. Rests with slight hunch in the back.
Knot grass caterpillar © Vaughn Matthews
Knot grass caterpillar © Frank Porch
Knot grass caterpillar © Frank Porch
When & where: May-July. Common in a range of habitats where common nettle is present.
Description: Up to 4.5 cm. Black with black spines and small white dots. Found in communal webs on common nettles.
Peacock caterpillar © Margaret Holland
Peacock caterpillars ©Vaughn Matthews
Peacock caterpillars © Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography
When & where: May-September. Commonly found in a variety of habitats including woodland, parks and gardens.
Description: A funky-looking grey and black caterpillar, with large tufts of hair, including a mohawk of yellow tufts on the back. Large caterpillars can often be spotted in late summer on a range of shrubs and trees.
Vapourer caterpillar © Pete Richman
Vapourer caterpillar © Les Binns
Vapourer moth caterpillar ©Tom Hibbert
When & where: June-October. Found on a wide variety of deciduous trees and other plants, including bramble.
Description: A striking bright green caterpillar, with black bands between its body segments, yellow/whitish hairs, a row of yellow tufts on top and a red tuft at the rear.
Pale tussock caterpillar ©Lizzie Wilberforce
Pale tussock caterpillar © Frank Porch
Pale tussock caterpillar © Frank Porch
Sawflies are a group of flies, whose larvae look very similar to moth and butterfly caterpillars. The larvae are usually 1-4 cm long, but come in an impressive variety of colours. One way to spot a sawfly larva is to count the legs – they also have six true legs, but usually have six or more pairs of the stumpy prologs, whereas caterpillars have five or fewer.
Rose sawfly larvae ©Les Binns
Iris sawfly © Tom Hibbert
How you can help
As a charity we rely on memberships. They help us look after over 2,300 nature reserves and protect the animals that call them home.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Animated Film
FAQ
What does a red caterpillar turn into?
-
Caterpillar Life Cycle:Caterpillars are the larval stage of moths and butterflies, part of a four-stage life cycle (egg, larva/caterpillar, pupa, and adult).
-
This type of caterpillar, with a red head and enlarged red fourth abdominal segment, turns into a moth.
-
The adult stage of this caterpillar is the Polka-Dot Wasp Moth, which is a moth, not a butterfly, though it looks like a wasp.
-
This caterpillar, known for its black and red or brown coloration, develops into a tiger moth.
-
This type of caterpillar develops into a Great Leopard Moth, a white moth with black spots on its wings.
Do red humped caterpillars sting?
Some caterpillars, on the other hand, have strong defenses such as internal toxins or stinging hairs and spines. They advertise their strong defensive position, often with bright colors and hyperactivity. The red-humped caterpillar (Schizura concinna) is one of these colorful defensive caterpillars.
Is it safe to touch mourning cloak caterpillars?
If you do see one of the caterpillars though – don’t touch it. The striking, mostly black caterpillars with bright red spots, have some large spines attached- and those spines can give a nasty sting to human flesh.
What are the damage of red hairy caterpillars?
What are the damage symptoms of hairy caterpillars? A. Symptoms include leaf scraping, skeletonization, and complete defoliation. Caterpillars feed on leaves, stems, flowers, and even developing pods.
How many types of red caterpillars are there?
The article “11 Types of Red Caterpillars with Accompanying Pictures” is a comprehensive guide to the eleven different species of red caterpillars found in North America. It provides readers with a detailed description of each caterpillar species, including their scientific name, physical characteristics, habitat, and preferred food sources.
What caterpillars have red heads?
Caterpillars With Red Heads use their coloring to fit in with their surroundings or to imitate harmful species. These caterpillars are common in many parts of the United States, particularly the East, and they frequently ruin gardens. These are a few common red-headed caterpillars found throughout North America. 1. Tetrio Sphinx Caterpillar
Which caterpillars are black & red?
While black and red nuances are dominant, its white tubercles make the caterpillar take on a different look in front of predators. Numerous hosts are noted for this species, including orchid tree varieties. 4. Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillars (Battus philenor) are often black and red.
What are some rare types of caterpillars?
Some rare types of caterpillars are black and red. These types of caterpillars can be found in high numbers in their natural habitat but may still seem elusive compared to dominant green caterpillars. Moths and butterflies of the world are often seen in black and red colors.
Where can you find the red caterpillar?
You can find this caterpillar in deciduous woods, gardens, and along riverbanks. The mature caterpillar has a black body covered in orange or red tubercles. On the other hand, the young larvae’s body is usually a rustic red color. Morning glory, wild ginger, and knotweed are the main foods they consume.
Why do caterpillars have red heads?
Caterpillars might have red heads to appear more dangerous. Red is a coloring that may associate them with a potentially poisonous species. A red head might also be an adaptation to the coloring of the environment. These types of caterpillars are present in different areas of the United States.