Last week we featured this species of moth caterpillar indicating that, “Caterpillars are not always easy to identify.” As this photo demonstrates, that can certainly be the case even when comparing individuals of the same species! We were initially stumped in trying to identify this daring caterpillar (feeding on water cress only a centimeter or so above moving water) and were surprised to find it is the same exact species. We now know how widely they can vary in coloration, typically being creamy yellow in color when young and darkening as they mature.
Photo by: Glenn Marangelo on 7/26/21 in Florence, MT