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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Sawflies, Horntails, and Wood Wasps » Common Sawflies (Tenthredinidae) » Allantinae
Photo#340710
Caterpillar?
Copyright © 2009 Jon Hart

Caterpillar?
Montrose, Laurens County, Georgia, USA
Size: between 10 and 25 mm
I have been inundated with these fellers over the past week. They vary in size and apparent development. Some have blue only on the caps of their heads others have totally blue heads. All have prominent eye spots. When I first saw them, I thought they were grubs, however, on closer inspection they definitely look like caterpillars. All were quite active, some were voracious. They apparently all like the same plant of which there is an abundance here. I don't know what the plant is, sorry. Can anyone inform this poor soul as to what they may be?

Images of this individual: tag all
Caterpillar? Caterpillar? Caterpillar? Caterpillar?
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Contributed by Jon Hart on 5 October, 2009 - 7:13pm
Last updated 10 November, 2009 - 8:27am

Moved
Moved from Unidentified Sawfly Larvae.
… v belov, 10 November, 2009 - 8:27am login or register to post comments

Tenthredinidae
Probably Allantinae, several of which are known to feed on Rubus.
… Dave Smith, 10 November, 2009 - 8:25am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… v belov, 5 October, 2009 - 10:15pm login or register to post comments

The plant...
The toothed leaves and thorns remind me of some kind of Rubus species, but it's hard to be sure from the photos.
… Natalie McNear, 5 October, 2009 - 9:34pm login or register to post comments

 
Rubus
I agree that the plant is a raspberry (Rubus) of some kind.
… John Pearson, 19 December, 2009 - 2:36pm login or register to post comments

Sawfly larva
The eyes, as well as number of prolegs, are key features distinguishing sawfly larvae from caterpillars. Since this is a pretty plain-looking one, figuring out the host plant is your best bet for getting a further ID. Feel free to add images of leaves, etc., which can be frassed once the plant is identified.
… Charley Eiseman, 5 October, 2009 - 7:15pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks, Charley
I'll post some pics tomorrow evening. I would never have guessed they were sawfly larva. Most enlightening.
… Jon Hart, 5 October, 2009 - 7:38pm login or register to post comments

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