Garden Sage: Mesquite moth caterpillar (S. hubbardi)

The caterpillar is Sphingicampa hubbardi, also known as Hubbard’s small silk moth or the mesquite moth. The adult moths have gray front wings covering bright red hind wings that they likely use to shock and awe predators while they make their escape.

 Courtesy of Clinton and Charles Robertson.

Q: I found a very strange looking caterpillar crawling across my patio.Β I would like to know where it came from and if it is a problem.

A:Β The caterpillar you found isΒ Sphingicampa hubbardiΒ and is also known as Hubbard’s small silk moth or the mesquite moth. It is a Southwestern species in the Saturniidae family of silkworm moths found from extreme eastern California, southern Nevada, and southern Arizona into west Texas. They feed on honey mesquite and some species of acacia and related legumes. They are not common enough to be considered a pest. The adult moths have gray front wings covering bright red hind wings that they likely use to shock and awe predators while they make their escape.

Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Questions may be emailed to plwarren@ cals.arizona.edu

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