33 Facts About Green Caterpillar Identification That You'll Love!

Caterpillars are small worm-like creatures that are in the larval stage of butterflies and moths.

These fascinating creatures can usually be found hanging around plants or on leaves, camouflaging into the vegetation with their natural green hues. Many caterpillars are even covered with fine spikes or horns, which can prick anyone trying to pick them up!

There are a large number of green caterpillar species and even though they may look alike, each one pupates into a different, colorful species of butterfly or moth. Fortunately, we can tell most of these species apart by paying attention to the small distinctive features they have, as well as their body shape.

So what are you waiting for, we have a list of the most fascinating green caterpillar species for you!

Green Garden Caterpillars

Many common caterpillar species are green in color.

• These caterpillars may hatch from eggs laid in your garden, and eat their fill of plants before mature caterpillars weave pupae around themselves.
• Once they are snug inside, they begin their transformation into stunning moths and butterflies, emerging soon after.
• Most caterpillars are green as their color matches with the natural shade of their main source of food, leaves.
• This helps them to effectively camouflage while feeding, making them almost indistinguishable to the eyes of predators.
• However, many caterpillar species may turn into different shades right before pupating, like red, brown, or blue!

Common Green Caterpillars

Tomato hornworm caterpillar-

• Tomato hornworm caterpillars are one of the most common types of caterpillars in the United States and Canada, and are considered to be pests as they can easily eat their way through your tomato plants!
• They are very easy to identify despite their common bright green color, because of their large heads and the white V-shaped markings and black dots along their bodies. Tomato hornworms have a small spike or horn-like tail sticking out from their rear ends.
• The horn is not used as a stinger or dangerous in any way. They can usually be found lounging on the leaves of tomato plants, munching on leaves and fruits.

Copper underwing caterpillar-

• The copper underwing moth caterpillar is a large, fat green caterpillar. Similar looking to a hornworm, this insect has a thin yellow stripe running along its side, with a white and black spot on it in every segment.
• The Copper underwing moth caterpillar also has a number of pale greenish-yellow spots on the rest of its body.
• Its head is quite small and round, and its distinctive pointed rear end gives away its identity almost immediately.

Hickory horned devil caterpillar-

• Aptly named, this colorful caterpillar can look quite scary! Bluish-green in color, this beautiful turquoise caterpillar species is covered with black spikes, with each end being covered in a point red tip.
• Its head has a number of red horns sticking out, each one ending in a black point.
• It is one of the largest green caterpillar species, and can grow up to 6 in (15 cm) long!

Hackberry emperor caterpillar-

• The hackberry emperor caterpillar is light green in color and has two yellow stripes running down its back.
• The two stripes together create a series of green, lung-shaped markings on its back.
• It has a number of raised yellow dots all over its body, in the form of tiny spikes.
• Its head is darker than the remaining part of its body and has two small horns. Its end is forked into two pointy tails.

Luna Moth Caterpillar-

• This large caterpillar species has a ridged body, with each segment ending in a thick, plump foot. The luna moth caterpillar has a round, brown head at one end, surrounded by a few tiny brown spikes.
• There are red and orange spots running along its back, and some of them have wispy spikes growing from them.
• Right before pupating, these green caterpillars turn a brilliant reddish-brown.

Rustic sphinx moth caterpillar-

• The rustic sphinx moth caterpillar is common to the southern states of America and can be identified because of the unique way its body is segmented.
• Dotted white and maroon stripes divide the segments, and the end tapers into a long, spiky horn.
• They are named after their tendency to raise their upper body, similar to how an Egyptian sphinx would.

Io moth caterpillar-

• The io moth caterpillar is a very spectacular looking caterpillar but beware, one touch and its stings will inject a powerful venom into your skin which will leave a searing pain behind!
• This fat green insect has spiky green tufts of spines rounding its body in wreaths, which are evenly spaced along its length.
• It has a candy cane colored red and white stripe running across the top, which makes it instantly recognizable!

Dragon-headed caterpillar-

• True to its name, the caterpillar of the nawab butterfly indeed does look like a tiny dragon!
• It has an elegantly shaped body, with the green segments divided by white and yellow diagonal stripes.
• These markings, when viewed from the top, form V shapes down the back. It has four horns sprouting from its head, with two larger ones from the top and two smaller ones at the sides.

Cabbage looper caterpillar-

• These small, green caterpillars may look like any other common insect, but they get their name from the distinctive way in which they move.
• They inch forward using large, looping movements, moving in arch-like steps.
• Their bodies are covered with fine white bristles, making them quite prickly to the touch!

Rough prominent moth-

• Another species of chunky green caterpillar, this insect can be identified by its rounded head and white speckling on its body.
• It has small red dots in the middle of each segment, as well as a long yellow stripe running down its middle.

Imperial moth caterpillar-

• The imperial moth caterpillar is a thick, fat green caterpillar that can be identified by its chunky green bodies, with fine bristles covering it.
• It has small white or yellow spots with black outlines on the sides of its body.

Cloudless sulphur butterfly-

• This fat, segmented caterpillar is very simple to identify because of its beautiful spotted pattern! Usually light green or yellow in color, this insect has a thick yellow stripe running across its side.
• The remaining of its body is covered with bluish-black spots, which are ringed with white. It is also covered with multiple white bristles, which can be very prickly- so don't touch!

Angle shades moth caterpillar-

• The angle shades caterpillar is very small and simple looking compared to other caterpillar species. Their coloring is often dull, pale green, or brownish-red.
• They may also have minuscule red spots on the sides of their bodies, which can be quite hard to spot because of the caterpillar's tiny size.

Winter moth caterpillar-

• These green caterpillars are a type of inchworm that can be identified by the pale yellow or white stripes running horizontally across its body.
• They are called inchworms as they only measure 1 in (2.5 cm) long!
• They have only two pairs of legs at their rear ends, which differentiate them from other, less invasive species of caterpillar. So keep a watch out for these tiny creatures, as they can eat their way through your garden in no time!

Rare Green Caterpillars

Though most green caterpillar species are very common, there is one species that remains quite elusive to this day:

Emperor Moth Caterpillar-

• The emperor moth caterpillar is a quite rare European species of caterpillar. Both caterpillar and moth are very unlikely to be seen out in the wild.
• The caterpillar itself looks a bit like a cactus, with its stout green body covered in rings of raised orange and yellow spots, from which tufts of small black hair protrude.
• The spots themselves are ringed in a black outline.

Green Caterpillar With Yellow Spots

Many green caterpillars have yellow spots on their bodies. Why yellow? We'll never know, but seeing how the combination is so common, here are a few of the species sporting this classic fusion-

Genista broom moth caterpillar-

• This brownish-green caterpillar can be identified by the black, yellow, and white markings spaced evenly across the length of its body.
• These markings also have stark white threads poking out of them, despite this caterpillar not being classified as a fuzzy one.
• This green caterpillar species can commonly be found crawling around deciduous trees and plants like sweet peas and honeysuckle.

Tiger swallowtail butterfly caterpillar-

• The juvenile stage of the beautiful eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly, this simple green caterpillar can be identified very easily by the eye-like markings on its head.
• Tiger swallowtail caterpillars have a white or yellowish band right behind their head, as well as yellow dots with black centers on the top of their heads which resemble eyes to deter predators.
• Like the black swallowtail caterpillar, the tiger swallowtail caterpillar also has a fake tongue that it brandishes to enemies to scare them off, as well as a foul stench that it emits when frightened.
• Once it is ready to transform into a pupa, this caterpillar turns dark brown.

White-lined sphinx caterpillar-

• This caterpillar has a stiff, straight body that is lime green in color.
• It has black and yellow markings along its side, usually with black spots having yellow centers.
• It has a long, black and orange horn protruding from its head, which may make it look quite scary but in reality- it is harmless!

Cecropia moth caterpillar-

• This species of large caterpillars is quite unique indeed! Some could compare it to a small, colorful cactus, as the spikes and bumps on its body make it look like so.
• It is one of the largest green caterpillar species, and its body is divided into a number of thick segments.
• A number of bright yellow, orange, and blue bumps, each lined up evenly across the caterpillars back complete their unique appearance.
• You may also find small white or black hairs protruding from the bumps. This insect can grow up to 4.5 in (11.5 cm).

Black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar-

• These fat, green caterpillars are very easy to identify because of their distinctive appearance.
• Their bodies are divided into several lime green segments, each of which has a black stripe running down it with yellow dots.
• The stripes move closer together towards the insect's head. This caterpillar also unleashes a bright orange, forked 'tongue' when threatened, though it is more of a defense mechanism than an actual tongue! It also releases a foul smell to ward off intruders, so if you see this caterpillar out in the wild, refrain from touching it!
• Once mature, black swallowtail caterpillars emerge as breathtaking swallowtail butterflies.

Cabbage white butterfly caterpillar-

• The cabbage white butterfly caterpillar is a pale green, fuzzy caterpillar that is quite small and dainty compared to other species.
• Their long and slender bodies have pale yellow spots interspaced at the bottom.
• The more immature caterpillars have black heads, which turn yellow and then green to match the rest of their bodies.

European puss moth caterpillar-

• This lime green caterpillar has a pink and brown face, which is quite round. It has two long, red-tipped tails at the other end, which it brandishes at enemies to ward them off.
• This caterpillar looks quite scary, and rightly so- when agitated, it can spot poisonous acid at you!
• If you see the European puss moth caterpillar start to raise its head and whip its tail from side to side, then keep your distance, because it is getting ready to attack!

The Symbolic Meaning Of Green Caterpillars

Caterpillars are at the stage in life right before they transform into beautiful butterflies.

• The job of caterpillars is to eat their fill and strengthen their bodies, in order to spin cocoons for them to slowly transform into moths or butterflies inside.
• Because of this, spotting a green caterpillar is often believed to be a sign of good fortune, or that a beneficial transformation is coming up in your life!
• As the caterpillars themselves are preparing to enter a new stage in their life, some people believe that on seeing one, you will soon enter a brand new, better stage of your life too!
• Since the color green is highly associated with nature, it can symbolize a fresh new beginning, the ability to forgive and forget past misgivings and mistakes and to find peace within yourself like the tranquility of nature.
• Caterpillars and butterflies have been touted throughout history as symbols and change and metamorphosis, and are often used in fiction to depict that the characters are going to enter a new, improved phase in their lives.
• So if you see one of these tiny critters in your garden, take inspiration to better yourself and make a fresh start, leaving all your past mistakes behind!

Driving These Green Caterpillars Away From Your Garden

Though green caterpillars are quite lovely to look at and are a sign of good luck, having too many of them in your garden may lead to its downfall!

• The fact of the matter is, caterpillars can eat up to three times their body weight every day. And what do they eat- leaves, fruits, and vegetables from your garden! In order to grow and prepare for metamorphosis, these insects need to eat all they can, and unfortunately, that can mean your entire garden.
• Many species of green caterpillars are often invasive and can take over your plants in no time. You may notice that you have these visitors if your leaves seem chewed through in lines.
• Fortunately, there are a few ways you can prevent these insects from devouring your plants.
• Keep an eye out for caterpillar eggs on your plants. They can easily be removed by pouring water on them or spraying with neem oil or insecticide.
• If you observe any caterpillars, you can pluck them off and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
• To keep eggs from being laid in the soil around your plants, as well as deter caterpillars from climbing them in the first place, line their bases with foil and cardboard.
• You can also cover your garden with a net, which will keep caterpillars away. Make sure the net is fine enough so that thicker caterpillars cannot make their way in.
• You can also make your garden more insect-friendly, to invite the natural predators of green caterpillars in. For example, parasitic wasps feed on caterpillars but do not destroy any plants themselves, making them quite beneficial.