Eggs, Caterpillars and Cocoons Photo Gallery by Naomi Smith at pbase.com

Eggs, Caterpillars and Cocoons

Spin and die,
To live again as butterfly.

- Christina Georgina Rossetti "The Caterpillar"

:: Caterpillar infected by Parasitoid Wasps ::	#0931 AP9	#0937 AP9	#0939 AP9	#1009 JL8
#1817 MY19	#2049 JN15	#3513 JN20	#6872 O8	#7052 JN19
#7893 JL17	#9168 JN18	#9180 JN18	#9218 JL19	#9663 JN16
#9708 JL17	Actias luna - caterpillar	Actias luna-caterpillar	Actias Luna cocoon exit opening on the right MY9 #9631	Actias maenas ova
Actias selene-2nd instar	Actias selene-3rd instar	Actias selene-5th instar	Actias selene-faceplates	American Dagger Moth 2675
Antheraea polyphemus cocoon AP9 #0934	Antheraea polyphemus cocoon showing exit hole MY9 #9589	Antheraea polyphemus JL7 #0555	Antheraea polyphemus JL7 #0784	Antheraea polyphemus JL7-8512
Antheraea polyphemus JL7 #9261	Antheraea polyphemus JL7 #9514	Antheraea polyphemus ova JN7 #7828	Antheraea polythemus AU7 #1454	Antheraea polythemus JL16 0576
Anthereae polythemus JN7 #8072	Atlas Moth Cocoon S8 #4882	Bagworm - Psyche casta JN9 #6859	Bagworm - Psyche casta JN9 #6862	Banded Tussock Moth caterpillar
Banded Tussock S9 #7352	Blue Morpho-Morpho peleides Cocoon MR11 #5358	Cabbage Butterfly Larvae and parasite AU7 #3072	Cabbage Caterpillar.jpg	Cabbage-Chrysalis 2
Cabbage-Chrysalis.jpg	Cabbage Moth Caterpillar AU20 #2741	Cairns Birdwing chrysalis	Callosamia promethea-2nd instar	Callosamia promethea-2nd-instar
Callosamia promethea-3rd-instar	Callosamia promethea-4th instar	Callosamia promethea-5th instar	Callosamia promethea-5th-instar	Callosamia promethea cocoon
Callosamia promethea ova	Caterpillar2 AU21 #3462	Caterpillar AU21 #3562	Choristoneura rosaceana JN9 #4876	Citheronia regalis JL07 #8914
Citheronia regalis JL7 #0546	Citheronia regalis JL7 #0795	Citheronia regalis JL7 #1010	Citheronia regalis JL7 #8546	Citheronia regalis JL7 #8831
Citheronia regalis JL7 #8919	Citheronia regalis JL7 #9516	Citheronia regalis JL7 #9518.jpg	Citheronia regalis larvae JN7 #7763	Citheronia regalis ova
Citheronia regalis ova JN7 #7707	Citheronia sepulcralis-2nd instar	Citheronia sepulcralis ova	Citheronia splendens ova	Cithronia regalis AU7 #1472
Clipper - Parthenos sylvia chrysalis MR11 #5392	Common Pug AU9 #6212	Common Pug Caterpillar-Eupithecia miserulata AU7 #1854	Curved-lined Angle S7 #5045	Curve-lined Angle S7 #5080
Darapsa choerilus JL8 #1396	Darapsa choerilus JL8 #1820	Darapsa choerilus JL8 #1832	Darapsa choerilus JL8 #2051	Darapsa pholus MY10 #3412
Dryocampa rubicunda JL8 #1428	Dryocampa rubicunda JL8 #1863	Dryocampa rubicunda JL8 #2065	Eacles imperialis	Eacles imperialis 1st and 2nd instar
Eacles imperialis ova	Eacles Imperialis pini AU7 #2102	Eacles Imperialis pini JL7 #0516	Eacles imperialis pini JL7 #0528	Eacles imperialis pini JL7 #0538
Eacles imperialis pini JL7 #0766	Eacles imperialis pini JL7 #0772	Eacles imperialis pini JL7 #9239	Eacles Imperialis pini JL7 #9502	Eacles Imperialis pini JL7 #9503
Eastern Black Swallowtail Larvae AU19 #2022	Eastern Tent Caterpillar communal nest M7 #5463	Eastern Tent Caterpillar - Malacosoma americana	Eastern Tent Caterpillars - Malacosoma americanum MY9 #9182	Ectropis crepuscularia #8038 JN8
Eight-spotted Forester-Alypia octomaculata JL7-8570.jpg	Eight-spotted Forester-Alypia octomaculata JL7 #8580	Emerald Swallowtail - Papilio palinurus MR16 #9654	Euxoa tesselata - Hodges #10805 Tessellate Dart AU8 #4068	Euxoa tesselata - Hodges #10805 Tessellate Dart AU8 #4068
Fall Webworm Caterpillar - Hyphantria cunea #6480 AU8	Fall Webworm Caterpillar S17 #4397	Forest Tent Caterpillar - Malacosoma disstria JN7 #7081	Giant Leopard Moth S17 #3545	Giant Swallowtail - Heraclides cresphones Ova S8 #7159
Giant Swallowtail - Heraclides cresphones S8 #7102	Giant Swallowtail - Heraclides cresphones S8 #7170	Giant Swallowtail - Heraclides cresphones S8 #7176	Gypsy Moth Caterpillar	Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar S17 #4571
Hyalophora cecropia-1st instar	Hyalophora cecropia-2nd instar	Hyalophora cecropia -2nd instar JL16 #6572	Hyalophora cecropia 2nd instar JN9 #8144	Hyalophora cecropia-3rd instar
Hyalophora cecropia - 5th instar	Hyalophora cecropia - 5th instar	Hyalophora cecropia-5th-instar	Hyalophora cecropia AU16 #3005	Hyalophora cecropia AU16 #5623
Hyalophora cecropia Cocoon AP9 #0940	Hyalophora cecropia cocoon AP9 #0948	Hyalophora cecropia Cocooning S16 #5235	Hyalophora cecropia Eggs JN9 #7009	Hyalophora cecropia JL16 #0624
Hyalophora Cecropia JL16 #6567	Hyalophora cecropia JN9 #1577	Hyalophora cecropia Larva 1st instar JN9 #0388	Hyalophora cecropia larvae JN9 #0420	Hyalophora cecropia-ova
Hyalophora cecropia ova MY9 #4682	Hyalophora cecropia - third instar JN9 #8101	Hyalophora cecropia - third instar JN9 #8134	Hyalophora colombia-5th instar	Hyalophora columbia-2nd instar
Hyalophora columbia ova JN16 #8167	Hyalophora euryalus Cocoon MY8 #9278	Hyalophora euryalus MY8 #9081	Hyphantria cunea AU16 #6166	Hyphantria cunea - Fall Webworm Moth - Hodges#8140 #0374 S10
Io 2nd and 3rd instar	Io moth ova	Large Yellow Underwing-Noctua pronuba Larvae MR12 #3188	Large Yellow Underwing-Noctua pronuba Larvae N7 #5667	Large Yellow Underwing-Noctua pronuba Larvae N7 #5710
Large Yellow Underwing-Noctua pronuba MY8 #719	Large Yellow Underwing - Noctua pronuba MY8 #720	Looper larvae On Rosebud JL13 #8831	Looper larvae on Rosebud JL13 #8836	Lophocampa caryae S17 #3512
Loscopia velata JN17 #3891	Loscopia velata JN17 #3898	Loscopia velata JN17 #5306	Meal Moth Caterpillar D7 #5852	Milkweed Tussock caterpillar S17 #4475
Milkweed Tussock Moth	Milkweed Tussock S7 #4020	Milkweed Tussock S7 #4100	Morrisonia latex JL7 #0816	Mourning Cloak caterpillar Nymphalis antiopa
Mourning Cloak Chrysalis, Nymphalis antiopa	Mourning Cloak - Nymphalis antiopa	Ochropleura implecta #8988-2006	Owl-Caligo sp.Cocoon MR11 #5348	Painted Lady Chrysalis
Paperwhite chrysalis	Polyphemus larvae JN7 #8080	Purple-lined Sallow #4723 - 2006	Pyrausta signatalis JL14 #5123	Pyrausta signatalis JL14 #5130
Question Mark Chrysalis 1989	Salt Marsh Caterpillar AU7 #2806	Salt Marsh-Estigmene acrea 2280	Salt Marsh-Estigmene acrea 2419	Salt Marsh-Estigmene acrea 2593
Salt Marsh moth-caterpillar	Silver-spotted Skipper	Smerinthus cerisyi 1st instar JN8 #9248	Smerinthus cerisyi JL8 #0409	Smerinthus cerisyi JL8 #1447
Smerinthus cerisyi JL8 #1879	Smerinthus cerisyi JN8 #9412	Smerinthus jamaicensis/Twin-spotted Sphinx MY8 #7442	Sphinx drupiferarum cocoon JL7 #8813	Tiger Swallowtail S19 #6670
Tiger Swallowtail S19 #6723	Tomato Hornworm AU9 #5815	Tomato Hornworm JL7 #1189	Tomato Hornworm JL7 #1320	Tomato Hornworm JL7 #1335
Unident. caterpillar	Velvet Rose - Pachliopta kotzebuea - empty chrysalis case MR11 #5375	Viceroy Chrysalis 1443	Virginia ctenuchu	Virginia ctenuchu
Virginian Tiger #7243	Virginian Tiger-Final-instar	Virginian Tiger JN19 #8795	Virginian Tiger JN19 #8829	Virginian Tiger Moth Cocoon Opened JL19 #2003
Virginian Tiger Moth JL19 #9387	Virginian Tiger Moth S9 #9026	Waved Sphinx #7139 S8	White Admiral Ova AU10 #5226	White Marked Tussock #6725
Woolly Bear 3053	Woolly Bear Caterpillar N15 #8955	Woolly Bear Cocoon-Pyrrharctia isabella - see #4450 AP9 #1859	Woolly Bear Cocoon with Tachnid that emerged on May 29 - MY9 #4450

comment |

Stacy		21-Jan-2019 22:22
I've found a cocoon hanging on a tree in Norman, Oklahoma that I would like to identify. It's light in color, and oval.

Tona Barkley		09-Aug-2018 18:29
I live in rural central/northern Kentucky. Our cedar trees and evergreen bushes have tons of chysalises made from their needles. Can you help me identify them?

Cristina Nott		01-Mar-2018 22:22
I have cocoons all over my apricot tree which is starting to lose its leaves. The cocoons are made up of several dead leaves all stuck together. I had noticed that some of the leaves were being eaten from early summer, but the fruit wasn't damaged so I didn't worry about them. I never saw a caterpillar. I do have borers that cause some problems. I have to saw off branches a couple of times a year to keep the tree looking healthy. I Don't know if these two things are related. This is a big apricot tree that bears an enormous amount of fruit.

Patricia Burkhalter		21-Jul-2017 17:12
I found many brown, wood-like cocoons attached to cedar branches and my weeping willow tree branches. Recently, I've noticed the tops of the cedar trees appear to be dying. How do I successfully remove the cocoons and revive the trees?

Jane Nieuwendorp		25-Jun-2017 02:52
I have hatched cacoons in my lawn 1 12 inches lone and less than 1/4 inches in diameter. Live in NW Iowa. What could they be?

virginia meng		23-Jun-2017 01:15
The cocoons are on tree branches, they are purple and white sticky pods. inside are hundreds of tiny mite looking bugs. anyone know what they might be?

Amber Frederick		29-May-2017 15:17
I found a "clay pot" looking cocoon on my bonsai tree can you identify it? I didn't see it in your pics. Thanks

sandra rodriguez		19-May-2017 22:22
anyone ever saw a round white fuzzy cocoon with red polka dots? wish i could upload a pic. would really like to know what it is.

Somebody		13-May-2017 19:44
I found a cocoon that looks like a piece of wood and is rough but it is soft and in a cylinder shape that comes to a point, and I do not know what it is?

Melissa Geib		15-Oct-2016 14:25
Found a picture of a possible cocoon. Looks like it is woven, alternating rows of color like a corn cob. Any idea?

Louann		05-Oct-2016 12:59
I found whiteish chrysalis with several golden bands encircling it. The chrysalis wath approx. one-half inch long

Debbie		10-Sep-2016 04:24
We found a cocoon that looks like a dolphin and is green and pinkish. Does anyone know what this is? I wanted to post a photo but don't think I can.

An		05-Sep-2016 01:35
I saw a translucent yellow caterpillar with some bluish markings on the trunk of a tree that was covered in big thorns (the tree not the caterpillar). The next day it was in chrysalis - mostly pink with some green tinge. Chrysalis wedge, almost leaf shaped. There was also another caterpillar same as the one before, preparing to hang and transform. I can't imagine what they eat. What are they? Any idea about the tree ID? Thanks! An

Guest		30-Aug-2016 23:00
I have an approximate 2" long by 1 1/2" wide brown cocoon hanging on porch steps that I'm trying to identify. It is tapered towards the top, which seems to have what appears several eggs at top. I live in the northeast. Any ideas? I

Guest		07-Aug-2016 20:37
Good evening,I have a few Large White caterpillars in a special netted for my grandchildren to watch develop .This evening there seems to be a group of small looks likeq eggs and slightly furry developed. Can you please identify these as I am a little puzzled. I put them outside in the sunshine then bring them indoors. I am thinking a wasp has laid eggs through the net but not sure. Helen.

liz		18-Jul-2016 09:10
I found a slimy writhing mass of what looks like hundreds of 1/4" caterpillars with black heads, the body looks like a worm, but it moves like an inch worm. They came up from a tuft of dead grass after several days of intermittent rains. They are all slimy like slugs, but they clearly have black heads. They appear to be emerging from the soil under the grass. What could this possibly be???

Narvmaster1991		22-May-2016 21:07
Found them in Toronto, ontario

Karen Moen		05-Mar-2016 08:08
An amazing collection of sharp images. I appreciate that you identified them, too. Well done and very educational. Voted.

idaho girl		04-Jun-2015 05:01
we found an orange black orange (like a reverse woolly bear) fuzzy but with long white hairs all down his back caterpillar, brought him home ( NORTHERN IDAHO) and cared for him. he just(early June) spun a cocoon that is smooth very shiny and black. what could he be?

Mangles Photography		14-Aug-2014 08:26
Great images!! Thank you for the images and the information

Confused Mother		20-Jun-2014 20:30
How long does a caterpiller normally stay in it's cacoon? I mean from the time it starts making it till the time it burst out into wingful glorious skydom? What does it have to have or consist of in order to maintain and prosper? Does it need sun for light or warth? Does it need to be on a leaf or twig so it can suck its nutrients to live itself? Please can someone please answer these questions for me and send their response(s) to my email address www.summermain81@gmail.com?. Thank you so much ahead for all those individuals that answer the questions there for aiding in the education and learning for my lovely daughter Cloey!!!!!!

Josie		14-Jun-2014 14:07
Do caterpillars sometimes share a cocoon. Found a massive odd white box type web/cocoon about the size if kiddies shoe box but looked like texture of suede attached to a bush.

Veronica Brown		20-Apr-2014 14:01
I found some funny oocoons near a trail in the colony texas and cant seem to idenitfy them. Ive searched many sites and still can not decide what it is. ill be happy to send a picture to who ever respondes to my question. Thank you for your time!

Flynn		07-Mar-2014 07:29
Very strange cacoon with lines and the cacoon looked like solid metal. We saw about three of them! Such weird stuff around here that we don't know about this world.

Guest		20-Feb-2014 16:20
i found a large cocoon of a butterfly or moth with grey and black spots and very few points

Guest		11-Jan-2014 21:33
Today, we found two very white, fluffy (marsh mellow) cocoons attached to large leafs of our papaya tree. Do you know what type of moth(?) or insect this might be?

Lorraine		16-Dec-2013 12:40
I have found lots of whitish long casings of somekind lying on the carpet in the bottom of my wardrobe and also attached to the coving in the spare bedroom. I also found an infestation of them buried in the fur of a toy koala bear I had sent to me from an aunt many years ago in Australia. They have almost skinned the koala of its fur and I found a mass of grit like substance around the koala bear. The casings appear to be soft and measure about 1/4" in length, long and thin. They appear to be empty as far as I could tell when splitting one open, except for a tiny gooey bit at one end. Can you help. I have vigorously hoovered all the area.

robert		26-Nov-2013 07:51
I have a bunch of finger size holes in my back yard. In these holes I found opaque in color pupae or cocoons about 11/2 inch long and the width of a finger.What are these critters?

Tess		20-Oct-2013 15:00
I would like to identify a catapillar but don't see it on your pages.

Guest		26-Sep-2013 22:09
thanks Naomi but what caterpillar has a stinger and is green

Claire		22-Sep-2013 15:57
I found miniscule worms wrapped in cocoons which were attached to random articles of clothing on my washing line - especially soft fabrics! Would they have fallen from a nearby lime tree

Greg		19-Sep-2013 20:39
Good day, If I send you a picture of a cocoon can you identify it? Very respectfully, Greg

Guest		14-Sep-2013 01:04
i found a cocoon that looked like a very thin pinecone. what is it?

nick		09-Sep-2013 02:22
Today I found a reddish-orange caterpillar with spots. it is about 3/4 of an inch in diameter and 3 inches in length, and seems to have tiny cocoons hanging off of it like it were its young! can anybody give me a name for this one. I have never seen one like this and i' very curious to see more of it thanks

Lonnie		27-Aug-2013 16:43
Beth...also have them and are wondering if anyone knows what they are!

Guest		23-Aug-2013 18:01
what kind of bug makes a lime green and pink cocoon with a spike on the bottom

Guest		22-Aug-2013 05:55
I found a clay-like circular cocoon attached to my lanai screen. Thinking it was a Dirt dobber, I picked it off and a tiny green caterpillar was in it. Any idea what kind it is? And will it die now that I loosened it's hold on the screen"

Doreen		21-Aug-2013 08:57
I found 2, what I thought were stones, on my TV stand. They were about 1 inch long and oval in shape and felt like concrete or stone. Underneath was a long split down the length and through it I could see a red striped body. Any idea what they were?

Beth		17-Aug-2013 22:18
I have cocoons that almost look like pinecones, there is some type of worm/caterpillar in them, there are tons of them in a type of evergreen tree I have. Does anyone know what it would be?

C Sullivan		13-Jul-2013 17:40
I have 2 pink cocoons on the side of a freestanding tub I turned into a pond...they almost look like chewed pieces of pink bubble gum. 1 has been there at least a week and then this morning I have another one. They are about an inch long.

Sandy		09-Jul-2013 13:22
I found a cacoon It looks like a log cabin very detailed out of small sticks

Christy		25-Jun-2013 19:11
My ten yr old found a green caterpillar with a lot of little hairs on it it made a web looking cocoon last night looks like a spider wound around it. I have a picture of it. I'm here in Indiana and its cocoon is under one of the leafs my daughter put in a huge bug box. It's not hanging and when we picked it up it clung to a branch really tight. It's a big neon green caterpillar maybe a few in in length and was quite wide too. If anyone can help us to care for this little guy that would be amazing! thank u an we love ur gallery!

cherylyn		21-Apr-2013 23:23
same i have chrome/silver cocoons with black stripe any detail how to keep it alive

Guest		07-Apr-2013 23:51
My chicken ate a deep purple cocoon of some type. It was green on the inside. Any idea what it was?

Amy		21-Feb-2013 06:40
We have a black and silver cocoon in the back yard. Anyone knows what it is? Amy

Guest		10-Feb-2013 19:57
I have a cocoon on a leaf and webs on top if anyone know what it is please tell me

Robert Moore		30-Nov-2012 06:34
Cool pics, I found a caterpillar in a weird cocoon. It is made of small pieces of wood and tiny sticks. Me and my daughter have been watching and it keeps moving. If anyone knows what kind of caterpillar this is please let me know.

Gilly Cadby		25-Jun-2012 15:12
Great photos but nothing like the caterpillar / cocoon in my garden. It has yellow raised stripes across a black body. It is in a loose mesh of white webbing attached to the underneath of a leaf on a plant that has soft grey furry leaves with bright cerese flowers. My grandaughter and I are fascinated with this find. What will it be when it grows up we wonder? Any ideas please?

guest		10-May-2012 14:59
neat pics! we have 2 cocoons on our carport. we watched the caterpillars make them, one on one day, and the other the next day. we are anxiously awaiting the big day to find out what they are. :)

Guest		21-Apr-2012 16:44
i have a catipiller

misty		09-Apr-2012 20:30
these are so pretty

myra		29-Jan-2012 21:35
I found a cocoon on a dead bush and it looks just like the trunk of the dead plant. It looks like it is made out of tiny sticks. Anyone know what it is?

Guest		20-Nov-2011 23:37
I have searched through almost all these pictures and I can't find what I'm looking for. The cacoon is tan with black and orange spots on it . Anyone know what it is?

Jordan		18-Nov-2011 00:16
hi i have a atlas moth cacoon im 10 years old and i found it in the woods in unity n.h.

Chris Allen		01-Nov-2011 13:25
I love to photograph butterflies and such and I love all of your pictures and info. Thanks Chris

Meagham		26-Nov-2010 19:03
I found a cocoon today and it was very thin and silky and you could see the caterpillar inside. What type of butterfly/moth could this be? I also noticed a small hole in the side of the cocoon, will this harm the caterpillar inside?

Natasha Daniels		11-Apr-2010 03:24
what will happen if you touch a cocoon?

Candice		26-Mar-2010 04:15
I have a question that none of my searches have satisfied. My son and I were gardening this afternoon and we found a stone-like cocoon. It was too perfect to be a rock and it looked to have grooves like a beetles back. There was a small hole at one side and it was elongated about two inches in length and about a quarter to half inch in width; it is brown dark brown and beige striped down the width of the 'cocoon'. My son and I are curious as to what it is. Could anyone help us solve this mystery?

Dana Heslin		04-Mar-2010 11:43
hey great pictures but our caterpillar is still alive and its cocoon moves along with it. bit like a turtle carries his house our preschool group would like to know if you have seen one of these. the cocoon has sticks all over it like match sticks probably so the birds don't see it.

Bob B.		15-Dec-2009 18:38
Great gallery!

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