These ravenous feeders are difficult to spot as they are well camouflaged among green foliage. A caterpillar identification chart will help you identify and distinguish one caterpillar from the other easily. Tomato Horn Worm Manduca quinquemaculata. These distinguished features could be a tail or split tail, head horns, knobs, lashes, spines etc. As is obvious from the name, these are found on poplar trees. Hyalophora cecropia: The Cecropia Giant Silk Moth. Once the primary observation is done, you must look for some unique features that would assist you in the process of precise identification of the green caterpillar that you have found. The horn on the tail will be blue, dark green or black. However, despite its fierce horned appearance, this type of caterpillar is totally harmless. At their rear end, these green caterpillars have a protruding ‘tail’ that looks like a spike (or horn). You may see white cocoons attached to the worm's body; they are not the worm's eggs. Discover Life's page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification and distribution of Discover Life These caterpillars are quite stout, and are about 2.5 inches long. They are also found in aspens, and infrequently on willows, birches, elms, and oaks. Tomato hornworms come from a mottled brown-gray moth (see picture, above). All it takes is one type of pest to ruin a crop. It will also tell you which caterpillar is not to be tampered … This is a BIG caterpillar, growing up to five inches long. They have a green horn at the rear end. The worm will have eight V-shaped white or yellowish strips across its torso. Mullein Moth (Cuculia verbasi) (Don’t worry, they aren’t able to sting or bite!) The tomato hornworm has eight curved or "V" shaped stripes and frequently the horn is black. Tomato Horn Worm,Tomato Worm,Tobacco Horn Worm,Photos and description of the Tomato Horn worm and its parasite. black and hairy, with 2 red knobs on the tail Spodoptera litura smooth, dark brown, 4 yellow spots on thorax Coequosa triangularis green with 2 black knobs on its tail Theretra oldenlandiae black, orange spots, wiggly tail spine, eats Balsam Endoxyla leucomochla Wijuti (or Witchetty) Grub Ochrogaster lunifer walks in procession Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) are 5-inch long green caterpillars with horn-like spines. Tomato Hornworm (large and green, with seven white, V-shaped stripes on each side and a dark blue-black horn) Polyphemus Moth (large and green, with yellow stripes and red and orange bumps on each segment) Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (green, with two false eyespots and well-defined segments) The caterpillar also has eight V-shaped stripes on its green body. Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) are 5-inch long green caterpillars with horn-like spines. The cecropia caterpillar feeds on oak, willow, and maple, among other trees and bushes. There are several species of caterpillars all around you. A Truly Helpful Caterpillar Identification Chart. They are pale green with white and black markings, plus a horn-like protrusion stemming from their rear. At first, the caterpillars are bright green with a long, curled horn on their tail end. All it takes is one type of pest to ruin a crop. Tomato Horn Worms are very hard to see as they hang in the shade underneath foliage. But this one, covered with white cocoons of the predatory Braconid Wasp, is easily seen against a background of ripe tomatoes. There is no sting, or even a sharp tip to the horn, so its use as a protective device is debatable. The caterpillar also has eight V-shaped stripes on its green body. A large caterpillar that is green with yellow horns is the Cecropia Moth. This is completely harmless as the Tomato Hornworm isn’t a stinging type of insect.