Armyworm

Description:

Small caterpillar about 2 inches in length. Black in color with a yellow stripe running along each side of its' body. It appeared to be very smooth in color.

Habitat:

"Habitat and Food Source(s): Caterpillars have chewing mouthparts. Adults have siphoning mouths. This is one of the most common caterpillars encountered in the vegetable garden, feeding on leaves during the day. Caterpillars strip foliage from one plant and then move on to the next available food plant. Although certain plants are preferred hosts, such as cotton, tomatoes, chrysanthemums, forages and turfgrasses, larvae will feed on a large number of plants. In cotton, larvae also tunnel into developing cotton bolls." Citation: https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/yellowstri...

Notes:

We often find these in and around our playground. They look very black and smooth and move relatively slow. They are always fun to see!