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Moth Caterpillars Gallery

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Uresiphita gilvata is a moth of the Crambidae family, Crambidae Pyraustinae. It is found in Europe and North Africa. The wingspan is 29-37 mm. Adults are on wing from September to October depending on the location. The caterpillar feed on various low-growing herbaceous plants, including Genista, Cytisus and Ulex. Photos taken in Garboli area, Tripoli- Libya (32.788046, 13.581372).

Caterpillar of The Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Agrius convolvuli, is a large hawk moth. It is common throughout Europe, Africa and Australia. Caterpillars usually  eat the leaves of the Convolvulus, therefore its Latin name "convolvuli".  Other recorded food plant include a wide range of plants in the Araceae, Convolvulaceae, Leguminosae and Malvaceae families.  The caterpillars can be in a number of different colours. As well as brown (pictured below) they have been seen in bright green and black. Photos taken in farm of University of Tripoli,Tripoli- Libya (32.847277, 13.223261). 

The Grass Eggar (Lasiocampa trifolii) is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae. It is found in Europe and North Africa. The wingspan is 40–55 mm. The moth flies from June to September depending on the location. The full-grown caterpillar is black, velvety between the rings, covered with golden brown hair on the back and greyer hair on the sides, among which are some black ones; three interrupted whitish lines on the back; some of the hairs along the middle of the back stand erect and form a ridge, looked at from either end. Head lightish brown in colour, lined with black. Feeds in the spring months and up to June chiefly on various kinds of grass. Among many of the plants that it has been known to eat are trefoils, bird's-foot (Ornithopus), sea thrift (Statice), heather, sallow, hawthorn, sloe, plum, bramble, etc. Photos taken in area near Alzizia city,Al Jafara- Libya (32.574155, 12.968244). 

Hippotion celerio, known as the Vine Hawk-Moth or Silver-striped Hawk-Moth, is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is found in Africa, Southern Europe, Central and Southern Asia and Australia. It can be found further north, because of its migratory nature. Larvae may be green, yellowish green or even brown. They have a dark broken mid-dorsal line and a creamy dorso-lateral line from the fifth segment to the horn. The head is round, and usually a dull green colour. The larva has a horn which is usually long and straight. There is a large yellow and green eyespot on the third segment and a smaller one on the fourth segment. Larvae typically feed on the leaves of plants such as the grape vine, Cissus, Impatiens and the Arum lily. Photos taken in Alhadba Alkadra (32.838637, 13.218113)

Cucullia calendulae is a moth of the Noctuidae family. 

It is widespread in all parts of the Mediterranean Basin, from northern Africa to Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Transcaucasus, Turkmenistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Adults are on wing from November to April. There is one generation per year. The larvae feed on Compositae species, including Calendula, Achillea, Anthemis and Ormenis. In Egypt it has been recorded on Chrysanthemum coronarium. Photos taken in farm of University of Tripoli,Tripoli- Libya (32.847277, 13.223261). 

Cucullia xeranthemi is a species of moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in southern Europe and North Africa. The wingspan is 34-42 mm. Adults are on wing from May to August in two generations per year. The adults feed on the flower nectar of various flowers including Silene,  Carduus, Cirsium and Scabiosa species. The larvae feed on Aster linosyris. The larvae can be found in July. The species overwinters as a pupa. Photos taken in farm of University of Tripoli,Tripoli- Libya (32.847277, 13.223261). 

The Bordered Straw (Heliothis peltigera) is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Southern Europe and the Near East, but can be found further North too, because it is a migratory species. It is also present in most of Africa and in Asia, ranging to China and Laos. The wingspan is 34–42 mm. The length of the forewings is 16–19 mm. The moth flies from May to October depending on the location. The larvae feed on Ononis, Calendula, Senecio viscosus and Tagetes. Photos taken in farm of University of Tripoli,Tripoli- Libya (32.847277, 13.223261). 

Caterpillar of Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. The larvae feed on the leaves and shoots of Buxus species. Young larvae only eat the upper part of the leaf (leaving the hardest inside structure). The leaves are not destroyed completely but appear as "pealed" in small parallel beats lines, or almost completely. These pealed leaves will eventually die. Old larvae are the most damaging: they massively completely eat the leaves, sometimes leaving however a thin part at the contour and center of the leaf. Photos taken in Garboli area, Tripoli- Libya (32.788046, 13.581372). 

The Chamomile Shark Moth Caterpillar (Cucullia chamomillae)  is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Central Europe, Southern Europe, the Near East and North Africa. The larvae feed on chamomiles, especially Matricaria perforata. Photos taken in farm of University of Tripoli,Tripoli- Libya (32.847277, 13.223261).  

 

Ophiusa tirhaca is a moth of the Erebidae family. It is found in Southern Europe, Africa, Australia and the southern parts of Asia. The wingspan is about 50 mm. The larvae feed on heath, Pistacia lentiscus, Pistacia terebinthus, Cotinus coggygria, Rhus coriaria, Rhus cotinus, Cistus, Eucalyptus,Osyris, Viburnum and

 Pelargonium. Photos taken in farm of University of Tripoli,Tripoli- Libya (32.847277, 13.223261).  

 

The Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. Herald caterpillars are long, and of a bright green shade common to many caterpillars. They are distinguished by the thin yellow lines running across the body between segments. When maturity is reached, they pupate between two leaves, in a white cocoon made of silk. Caterpillars Foodplants: Willow, Aspen, Poplar Photos taken in farm of University of Tripoli,Tripoli- Libya (32.847277, 13.223261).  

 

Agonopterix rotundella is a moth of the Oecophoridae family. It is found in most of Europe and North Africa. The larvae feed on Daucus carota and Laserpitium gallicum. They initially mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine has the form of a small, irregular full depth corridor. Older larvae vacate their mines and continue feeding among spun leaves. Larvae can be found from June to August. They are green with darker length lines and a brownish black head.

 

Photos taken in farm of University of Tripoli,Tripoli- Libya (32.847277, 13.223261).  

 

Bagworms

 

Hyalarcta huebneri, from family of Psychidae.Called also bagworm moths, also simply bagworms or bagmoths. These Caterpillars live in a silken case, to which they attach bits of leaf and/or twigs to cover it completely. Only the head and thorax have a protective chitinous skin. The caterpillar keeps its unprotected abdomen permanently in its case.The caterpillar pupates inside its case. When a male adult is ready to emerge, he pushes the pupa out of the back end of the case. When a female is ready to emerge, she does so inside the case. The adult female is wingless, and stays within her case. Her emergence from her pupa is however signalled by the extrusion of a large amount of fluffy silk from the case. She looks like a bag of eggs, with a vestigial head and some tiny legs on one end. She has a length of about 1 cm. The male has wings that are transparent, and has a long, tapering, black body. He has orange antennae. He has a wingspan of about 2 cms.  Photos taken in Algraboli near Tripoli (32.805886, 13.546704) found in 13/2/2016

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