A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Cucullia asteroides
A very amazing and active rare yellow Asteroid Caterpillar feeds on Small White Asters and crawls from flower to flower and moves so quickly I found it hard to believe. Very odd to be active this time of the year in the hills of the Poconos. This caterpillar will create a hardy cocoon underground for the winter and in the spring emerge as an undistinct, but very large, dull moth called the Goldenrod Hooded Owlet Moth. As it name suggests it feeds on goldenrod, but as my caterpillars in the meadow proves love Small White Asters best.
Meadow in the Poconos with wildflowers for food
Last sighting as a note: November 21, 2011. Belong to the Family Noctuidae (the largest moth family) with over 3,000 species in just North American alone.
Spotted on Nov 18, 2011
Submitted on Nov 24, 2011
6 Comments
Yes, I do! Thanks for checking it out. This caterpillar was still active late November. Amazing!
I guess you mean this wonderful yellow beauty...?
I am learning too as recently as when I joined this group just a few weeks back. This caterpillar will turn into the Goldenrod Hooded Owlet Moth which feeds on goldenrod and aster plants. Observing its feeding was amazing! Stretching across a large empty space between flowers just to reach the good ones.
i'm not good with insects but does that turn into a butterfly or a moth?
Delicious ^^ I like the colors :)
Very pretty... and cold hardy. :)