Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#302507
Tussock moth caterpillar? - Lophocampa maculata

Tussock moth caterpillar? - Lophocampa maculata
Pacifica State Beach, San Mateo County, California, USA
July 11, 2009
found mid-day on arroyo willow

Lophocampa maculata caterpillar
I am doing a research project on this species and I find this photo very interesting. Ruth gravanis, would you please contact me so I can inquire about the details. It would really help the project to have an email conversation.

Thank you.

ken Strothkamp (kgs@lclark.edu)

spotted tussock?
Possibly a spotted tussock, the info page shows variations in the larvae across the u.s. with the western larvae looking like yours.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/5241

Spotted Tussock?

 
Spotted Tussock
Thank you, Joe and John. About a hundred feet away was another moth larva that looked exactly the same (to my untrained eye) except that there were only two spots instead of three, and they were long rectangles, perpendicular to the body.