Q:Β These caterpillars are everywhere!! Canβt walk outdoors without stepping on them. Also climbing garage doors etc. What kind of moth will they become?
A:Β These are the white-lined sphinx moth caterpillars (Hyles lineata). They are a well-known species because they can be found across most of the United States. The moths may be seen flying during the day and are sometimes referred to as hummingbird moths because they may be seen feeding on flowers while hovering. At this time of year the caterpillars are seen in great numbers as they feed on plants and then seek places to pupate for a couple of weeks before they emerge as adult moths. The caterpillars can be found eating a variety of plants, but they donβt do significant damage most of the time so they are not considered to be a pest worth managing. An interesting feature of this caterpillar is the variety of shades of yellow and green they take on as they mature.Β This is interesting enough that there is someone conducting research to study the differences.
Interested in being a citizen scientist? You can help by reporting your caterpillar findings by sending photos of these caterpillars to a PhD student at the UA. Her name is Cristina Francois, and her email is cfrancois@email.arizona.edu. She does visual surveys on the color ratios that they present, what plants they are eating, what other animals might be eating them, etc. All very important to understanding what ecological role this animal plays.
Peter Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the UA. Questions may be emailed to tucsongardensage@gmail.com
