Butterfly Caterpillars

Caterpillar pictures

The transformation of the frequently ugly or bizarre caterpillar into an elegant butterfly is truly one of the regularly performed miracles of nature. For an even closer view, you can buy butterfly kits to raise Painted Lady Butterflies from caterpillars to adults, right in your home.

Common caterpillars and what they eat

Anise Swallowtail Caterpillar

Found in western North America, anise swallowtail caterpillars feed on plants in the carrot family, such as fennel and wild anise.

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Look for these on parsley, dill, fennel and carrot leaves – they are common visitors to vegetable and herb gardens.

Buckeye Caterpillar

Buckeye caterpillars feed on plantains, snapdragons and related plants.

Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar

Cloudless sulphur caterpillars eat the leaves of senna plants, including partridge pea.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

They feed on tulip tree, wild cherry and ash leaves. Young caterpillars look like bird droppings, which helps keep them safe.

Fritillary Caterpillar

Gulf and variegated fritillary caterpillars feed on passionflower vines, while many other fritillaries eat violets.

Cabbage White Caterpillar

These green caterpillars eat cabbage, kale, broccoli and other brassicas, which makes them a well-known garden pest.

Monarch Caterpillar

Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweed. Toxins from the plant make them taste bad to birds and other predators.

Mourning Cloak Caterpillar

Mourning cloak caterpillars feed in groups on willow, elm, birch and poplar trees.

Painted Lady Caterpillar

Painted lady caterpillars eat thistles, mallows and hollyhocks, and they are the species most often raised in classroom butterfly kits.

Question Mark Caterpillar

Question mark caterpillars feed on elm, hackberry and nettles.

Red Admiral Caterpillar

Red admiral caterpillars feed on stinging nettles and hide inside leaves they fold together with silk.

Red-Spotted Purple Caterpillar

They feed on wild cherry, willow and poplar, and like young tiger swallowtails they look a lot like bird droppings.

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

Spicebush swallowtail caterpillars eat spicebush and sassafras. The big false eyespots behind their heads help scare off predators.

Viceroy Caterpillar

Viceroy caterpillars feed on willows and poplars. The adult butterfly looks very similar to a monarch.

Zebra Swallowtail Caterpillar

Zebra swallowtail caterpillars feed only on pawpaw trees.