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Pest Identification and Confirmation: Common Caterpillars

Here are six common, often confusing, caterpillars found in backyards:

Larva feeding on cotton leaf, 1X; . Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, larva and its leaf-chewing damage. Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Looper
Distinctive looping movement;
2 prolegs

Larva on ground curled in a C-shape, 1X; . Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Larva of variegated cutworm Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Variegated cutworm
 Hairless; bumpy skin

Larva feeding on fruit, 1/2X; . Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Larva of corn earworm, cotton bollworm, tomato fruitworm Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Corn earworm
(Tomato fruitworm)
Distinct stripes with
short hairs

Larva on stem, 1X; . Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Larva of beet armyworm Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Beet armyworm
 Nearly hairless,
striped greenish

Larva resting on leaf, 1X; . Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Larva of imported cabbageworm, cabbage butterfly Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Imported cabbageworm
Velvety; faint stripe

Larva resting on twig, 1X; . Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Larva of western yellowstriped armyworm Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Western yellow-striped armyworm
Dark colored, hairless with yellow stripe

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