Caterpillars Count!
@caterpillarscount.bsky.social
Citizen science project on the abundance and phenology of 🐛🐞🦗🐝🦋🕷. Seeking new participating sites! Learn how to participate on our website!
https://caterpillarscount.unc.edu
https://caterpillarscount.unc.edu
See also:
Woody angle caterpillar, garden ghost spider, Harmostes fraterculus, Euborellia arcanum (earwig)
Woody angle caterpillar, garden ghost spider, Harmostes fraterculus, Euborellia arcanum (earwig)
October 10, 2025 at 10:34 PM
See also:
Woody angle caterpillar, garden ghost spider, Harmostes fraterculus, Euborellia arcanum (earwig)
Woody angle caterpillar, garden ghost spider, Harmostes fraterculus, Euborellia arcanum (earwig)
Even before @inaturalist.bsky.social identifiers have had more than a few hours for ids, we added 100+ species to our previous total of 517
October 10, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Even before @inaturalist.bsky.social identifiers have had more than a few hours for ids, we added 100+ species to our previous total of 517
Some ento-highlights from the UNC fall BioBlitz today
October 10, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Some ento-highlights from the UNC fall BioBlitz today
A pirouetting caterpillar is a good way to start the day!
In this case, a balletic banded tussock moth (Halysidota tessellaris)
In this case, a balletic banded tussock moth (Halysidota tessellaris)
October 7, 2025 at 12:28 PM
A pirouetting caterpillar is a good way to start the day!
In this case, a balletic banded tussock moth (Halysidota tessellaris)
In this case, a balletic banded tussock moth (Halysidota tessellaris)
October 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Found what was probably the same caterpillar as yesterday elsewhere on the porch and decided everyone needs to pay more attention to caterpillar feet!
October 3, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Found what was probably the same caterpillar as yesterday elsewhere on the porch and decided everyone needs to pay more attention to caterpillar feet!
October 2, 2025 at 8:56 PM
First a cool moth in the house, now a cool caterpillar on the front step.
Is there a local Lepidoptera convention I wasn’t aware of?
Variable oakleaf caterpillar
Is there a local Lepidoptera convention I wasn’t aware of?
Variable oakleaf caterpillar
September 13, 2025 at 3:35 AM
First a cool moth in the house, now a cool caterpillar on the front step.
Is there a local Lepidoptera convention I wasn’t aware of?
Variable oakleaf caterpillar
Is there a local Lepidoptera convention I wasn’t aware of?
Variable oakleaf caterpillar
Who let this double-toothed prominent into the house?
Trust me friend, what you are seeking is not in here, but thanks for stopping by!
Trust me friend, what you are seeking is not in here, but thanks for stopping by!
September 12, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Who let this double-toothed prominent into the house?
Trust me friend, what you are seeking is not in here, but thanks for stopping by!
Trust me friend, what you are seeking is not in here, but thanks for stopping by!
Hawks are naturally inquisitive. If there are good questions out there, they will investigate!
September 4, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Hawks are naturally inquisitive. If there are good questions out there, they will investigate!
Wow! How about this amazing contender for Wildlife Photo of the Year.
Invertebrate predator-prey interactions never looked so gorgeous!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Invertebrate predator-prey interactions never looked so gorgeous!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
August 29, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Wow! How about this amazing contender for Wildlife Photo of the Year.
Invertebrate predator-prey interactions never looked so gorgeous!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Invertebrate predator-prey interactions never looked so gorgeous!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Some fall webworms (Hyphantria cunea) dance to the beat of a different drummer
#IverteFest #insects #phenology #caterpillars
#IverteFest #insects #phenology #caterpillars
August 26, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Some fall webworms (Hyphantria cunea) dance to the beat of a different drummer
#IverteFest #insects #phenology #caterpillars
#IverteFest #insects #phenology #caterpillars
Poor sphinx moth caterpillar
But parasitoids (Cotesia spp) gotta eat too!
But parasitoids (Cotesia spp) gotta eat too!
August 18, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Poor sphinx moth caterpillar
But parasitoids (Cotesia spp) gotta eat too!
But parasitoids (Cotesia spp) gotta eat too!
If only life were always so simple as finding Walnut Caterpillar Moth (Datana integerrima) caterpillars on a walnut branch.
#insects #phenology #moths #caterpillars #monitoring
#insects #phenology #moths #caterpillars #monitoring
July 31, 2025 at 2:36 PM
If only life were always so simple as finding Walnut Caterpillar Moth (Datana integerrima) caterpillars on a walnut branch.
#insects #phenology #moths #caterpillars #monitoring
#insects #phenology #moths #caterpillars #monitoring
There’s no cuter and fuzzier a way to start off the week than with “boogie woogie” beech blight aphids!
We estimated at least 1500 on this branch, and could easily be more like 3000!
#insects #monitoring #CitizenScience #phenology
#ShakeItLikeAPolaroidPicture
We estimated at least 1500 on this branch, and could easily be more like 3000!
#insects #monitoring #CitizenScience #phenology
#ShakeItLikeAPolaroidPicture
July 28, 2025 at 3:12 PM
There’s no cuter and fuzzier a way to start off the week than with “boogie woogie” beech blight aphids!
We estimated at least 1500 on this branch, and could easily be more like 3000!
#insects #monitoring #CitizenScience #phenology
#ShakeItLikeAPolaroidPicture
We estimated at least 1500 on this branch, and could easily be more like 3000!
#insects #monitoring #CitizenScience #phenology
#ShakeItLikeAPolaroidPicture
This confused woodgrain moth caterpillar is so cool it has to wear shades!
Final survey branch of 2025 at Johnston Mill Nature Preserve
#insects #monitoring #CitizenScience #phenology
Final survey branch of 2025 at Johnston Mill Nature Preserve
#insects #monitoring #CitizenScience #phenology
July 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This confused woodgrain moth caterpillar is so cool it has to wear shades!
Final survey branch of 2025 at Johnston Mill Nature Preserve
#insects #monitoring #CitizenScience #phenology
Final survey branch of 2025 at Johnston Mill Nature Preserve
#insects #monitoring #CitizenScience #phenology
July 26, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Virginia creeper sphinx moth in the bar at the end of #NationalMothWeek
Yep, it’s been a long week buddy!
Yep, it’s been a long week buddy!
July 25, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Virginia creeper sphinx moth in the bar at the end of #NationalMothWeek
Yep, it’s been a long week buddy!
Yep, it’s been a long week buddy!
If you have been enjoying #NationalMothWeek, consider joining our arthropod monitoring program!
Standardized surveys provide more info than simply submitting photos, and help reveal phenology and long-term trends. Explore our data like those shown below!
caterpillarscount.unc.edu/mapsAndGraph...
Standardized surveys provide more info than simply submitting photos, and help reveal phenology and long-term trends. Explore our data like those shown below!
caterpillarscount.unc.edu/mapsAndGraph...
July 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
If you have been enjoying #NationalMothWeek, consider joining our arthropod monitoring program!
Standardized surveys provide more info than simply submitting photos, and help reveal phenology and long-term trends. Explore our data like those shown below!
caterpillarscount.unc.edu/mapsAndGraph...
Standardized surveys provide more info than simply submitting photos, and help reveal phenology and long-term trends. Explore our data like those shown below!
caterpillarscount.unc.edu/mapsAndGraph...
And finally wrapping up today’s National Moth Week caterpalooza — a Polistes wasp with a caterpillar meal!
Prairie Ridge outdid itself today!
Prairie Ridge outdid itself today!
July 22, 2025 at 4:47 PM
And finally wrapping up today’s National Moth Week caterpalooza — a Polistes wasp with a caterpillar meal!
Prairie Ridge outdid itself today!
Prairie Ridge outdid itself today!
Another caterpillar aggregation today, this time on persimmon. Early instars can be trickier to identify. Ideas?
July 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Another caterpillar aggregation today, this time on persimmon. Early instars can be trickier to identify. Ideas?
July 22, 2025 at 3:38 PM
And how about these dangling Xmas ornaments— Datana caterpillars on water oak!
Also at Prairie Ridge Ecostation
Also at Prairie Ridge Ecostation
July 22, 2025 at 3:15 PM
And how about these dangling Xmas ornaments— Datana caterpillars on water oak!
Also at Prairie Ridge Ecostation
Also at Prairie Ridge Ecostation
It’s National Moth Week y’all!
But don’t forget that every amazing moth started out as an even more amazing caterpillar like this maple dagger!
#insects #bugsky #phenology
But don’t forget that every amazing moth started out as an even more amazing caterpillar like this maple dagger!
#insects #bugsky #phenology
July 22, 2025 at 2:38 PM
It’s National Moth Week y’all!
But don’t forget that every amazing moth started out as an even more amazing caterpillar like this maple dagger!
#insects #bugsky #phenology
But don’t forget that every amazing moth started out as an even more amazing caterpillar like this maple dagger!
#insects #bugsky #phenology
How about this cool underwing caterpillar (genus Catocala) at Eno River State Park!
60+ mm long, and sexy orange undersides
#insects #bugsky #caterpillars #phenology
60+ mm long, and sexy orange undersides
#insects #bugsky #caterpillars #phenology
July 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM
How about this cool underwing caterpillar (genus Catocala) at Eno River State Park!
60+ mm long, and sexy orange undersides
#insects #bugsky #caterpillars #phenology
60+ mm long, and sexy orange undersides
#insects #bugsky #caterpillars #phenology