40 Caterpillars in South Carolina (Plus Which Ones to Avoid Touching)
September 1, 2026
South Carolina’s warm, humid climate and mix of coastal plains, piedmont forests, and mountain foothills support one of the richest caterpillar populations in the Southeast. From the familiar black-and-yellow banding of a monarch caterpillar to the venomous spines hidden in a puss caterpillar’s soft-looking fur, the state hosts an enormous variety of larvae that eventually become butterflies and moths.
This guide covers 40 types of caterpillars in South Carolina, organized by the species most gardeners, hikers, and curious backyard observers are likely to encounter. A few of these caterpillars carry stinging hairs or spines that can cause real pain or allergic reactions, so this guide also flags which ones are safe to handle and which ones deserve a respectful, hands-off distance.
Whether the goal is identifying caterpillars in South Carolina for a school project, protecting tomato plants from hungry hornworms, or simply figuring out what that spiky green creature on the porch railing actually is, the species below represent the caterpillars most commonly reported across the Palmetto State.
| Caterpillar | Sting Risk | Key Identifying Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Puss Caterpillar | Severe | Soft, hairy, teardrop-shaped body resembling a tiny toupee |
| Io Caterpillar | Moderate to Severe | Bright green body with rows of branching spines |
| Stinging Rose Caterpillar | Moderate | Colorful body with tufted spine clusters along the back |
| Monkey Slug Caterpillar | Mild to Moderate | Flattened, hairy body with curled, leg-like projections |
| Flannel Moth Caterpillar (Asp) | Severe | Dense, cotton-like hair covering hidden venomous spines |
Key Insight: Out of the 40 caterpillars featured in this guide, only a handful carry venomous spines capable of stinging. Most South Carolina caterpillars are completely harmless to handle, though gentle observation is always the better choice for the caterpillar’s safety.
1. Monarch Caterpillar
The monarch caterpillar (Danaus plexippus) is probably the most recognized larva in North America, with bold yellow, black, and white bands wrapping around a plump body that can reach two inches long. It feeds exclusively on milkweed, storing toxic compounds from the plant that make both the caterpillar and the adult butterfly unpalatable to most predators.
South Carolina sits along a key stretch of the monarch’s fall migration route to Mexico, and gardeners across the state plant milkweed specifically to support egg-laying females passing through. According to the CaterpillarIdentification.org species database, monarch caterpillars are among the most frequently reported species in the state during late summer.
2. Cabbageworm
The imported cabbageworm (Pieris rapae) is a velvety green caterpillar with a faint yellow stripe running down its back, and it is one of the most common garden pests found on cole crops throughout South Carolina. Home gardeners often spot the ragged holes it chews in cabbage, broccoli, and kale leaves before finding the caterpillar itself, since its green coloring blends in so well with the foliage.
Adult cabbage white butterflies lay eggs singly on the undersides of leaves, and the resulting larvae can strip a young plant within days if left unchecked. The Bird Watching HQ guide to South Carolina caterpillars lists cabbageworms among the species most frequently reported by home gardeners statewide.
3. Woolly Bear Caterpillar
Few caterpillars generate as much folklore as the woolly bear (Pyrrharctia isabella), the fuzzy black-and-orange-banded larva often seen crossing roads and sidewalks in autumn. Popular legend claims the width of its orange band predicts winter severity, though entomologists note the band width actually reflects the caterpillar’s age and molting stage rather than any weather forecast.
Woolly bears overwinter as caterpillars, freezing solid in leaf litter before thawing out each spring to resume feeding and eventually pupate. Anyone curious about the salamanders and other small creatures that share this same leaf-litter habitat can explore the salamanders of South Carolina for a broader picture of forest-floor wildlife. Research summarized by A-Z Animals confirms woolly bears are among the most cold-tolerant caterpillars in North America.
4. Viceroy Caterpillar
The viceroy caterpillar (Limenitis archippus) has a bumpy, olive-brown body with a white saddle-like patch and two horn-like tubercles near the head, giving it a convincing resemblance to a bird dropping. This camouflage strategy helps it avoid predators while it feeds on willow and cottonwood leaves along South Carolina’s rivers and wetlands.
As an adult, the viceroy butterfly mimics the toxic monarch’s orange-and-black pattern so closely that the two are often confused, even though viceroys are not toxic themselves. This mimicry relationship is one of the most studied examples of Batesian mimicry in North American insects.
5. Large Maple Spanworm Caterpillar
The large maple spanworm caterpillar (Prochoerodes lineola) is a twig-mimicking inchworm with a mottled brown body that looks remarkably like a small broken branch when at rest. It moves by looping its body forward in the classic inchworm gait, feeding on maple, oak, and a variety of other hardwood leaves common in South Carolina forests.
Because it holds still and blends so well with bark and twigs, this species is far more often felt brushing against skin while gardening than actually seen. Its adult form, the large maple spanworm moth, is similarly camouflaged with wings patterned to resemble dead leaves.
6. Variegated Fritillary Caterpillar
The variegated fritillary caterpillar (Euptoieta claudia) has a bright orange body marked with black spines and a pair of longer black spines near the head, making it easy to distinguish from other fritillary species. Unlike most fritillaries that specialize on violets, this species also feeds on passionflower and stonecrop, giving it a broader host range across South Carolina’s fields and roadsides.
This adaptability lets variegated fritillaries thrive in disturbed habitats like pastures and vacant lots where more specialized butterflies struggle. Gardeners interested in comparing caterpillar diversity in neighboring states can check out the caterpillars found in Georgia, where the same species is common in similar open habitats.
7. Curve-Lined Owlet Moth Caterpillar
The curve-lined owlet caterpillar (Phyprosopus callitrichoides) has one of the most convincing disguises of any South Carolina caterpillar, curling its brown, ragged-edged body to resemble a dead, curled leaf. It feeds primarily on greenbrier vines found throughout the state’s woodlands and forest edges.
This species relies entirely on camouflage rather than toxins or spines for defense, holding perfectly still against a leaf or vine when disturbed. Its resemblance to leaf litter is so precise that even experienced naturalists often walk past one without noticing.
8. Tobacco Hornworm
The tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) is a large green caterpillar with seven diagonal white stripes and a curved red horn at the rear, feeding on tobacco, tomato, and other nightshade family plants across South Carolina’s agricultural regions. It can grow to nearly four inches long before pupating, making it one of the largest caterpillars regularly found in home gardens.
The adult form, known as the Carolina sphinx moth, is a strong flier often mistaken for a hummingbird as it hovers at flowers during dusk. Farmers and home growers watch closely for this species because a single hornworm can defoliate a tomato plant in just a few days of heavy feeding.
9. Tomato Hornworm
The tomato hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata) looks almost identical to its tobacco hornworm relative, but it has eight V-shaped white markings instead of diagonal stripes, along with a black or dark blue horn rather than a red one. Both species feed on tomato plants throughout South Carolina, and gardeners often assume they are dealing with just one pest species when actually two closely related hornworms may be present.
Common Mistake: Many gardeners use “tomato hornworm” as a catch-all name for both species. Checking the horn color and stripe pattern is the fastest way to tell them apart, since control methods and parasitic wasp activity can differ slightly between the two.
Braconid wasp cocoons, which look like small white grains of rice covering the hornworm’s back, indicate natural biological control already at work and are a signal to leave the caterpillar in place rather than remove it.
10. White-Marked Tussock Caterpillar
The white-marked tussock caterpillar (Orgyia leucostigma) is a striking, colorful larva with a bright red head, yellow and black body, and distinctive tufts of white hair-like setae along its back. These setae can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals, so light gloves are a reasonable precaution when handling one.
This species feeds on a wide variety of deciduous trees, including oak, maple, and birch, and is common in both urban shade trees and forested areas throughout South Carolina. Female moths of this species are flightless, laying their eggs directly on the cocoon they emerged from rather than dispersing to new locations.
11. Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar
The milkweed tussock caterpillar (Euchaetes egle) shares the same milkweed host plants as the monarch caterpillar but has a very different look, with dense tufts of black, white, and orange hair covering its entire body. Like monarchs, it absorbs toxic compounds from milkweed sap that make it distasteful to birds and other predators.
Large groups of these caterpillars often feed together on a single milkweed plant, sometimes stripping leaves down to the veins before dispersing to find new host plants. Gardeners who plant milkweed specifically to support monarchs will often find this species sharing the same patch, along with other pollinators covered in this guide to South Carolina’s native bees.
12. Banded Tussock Caterpillar
The banded tussock caterpillar (Halysidota tessellaris), sometimes called the pale tussock moth caterpillar, has soft yellowish-white hair with longer black hair pencils extending from both ends of its body. Despite its fuzzy, almost inviting appearance, direct contact can still cause mild skin irritation in some people.
This species feeds on a wide range of hardwood trees, including oak, hickory, and walnut, and is frequently spotted on porches and sidewalks in late summer as it wanders in search of a pupation site. It is one of several tussock moth caterpillars found in South Carolina that look deceptively soft but are best observed rather than picked up.
13. Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar
The giant leopard moth caterpillar (Hypercompe scribonia) is a bristly black caterpillar that curls into a tight ball when threatened, revealing bright red-orange bands between its body segments. Despite its intimidating, spiky appearance, this species is harmless to handle and does not sting.
This caterpillar overwinters in leaf litter as a partially grown larva, resuming feeding on a wide variety of low-growing plants and trees once temperatures warm in spring. The adult giant leopard moth that emerges is equally striking, with brilliant white wings covered in black ring-shaped spots.
14. Parsley Caterpillar (Black Swallowtail)
Known to gardeners as the parsley caterpillar, the black swallowtail larva (Papilio polyxenes) has a bright green body banded with black stripes dotted with yellow spots. It feeds readily on parsley, dill, fennel, and carrot tops, which is why home vegetable gardens across South Carolina often become unexpected nurseries for this species.
When disturbed, this caterpillar extends a bright orange, fork-shaped organ called an osmeterium from behind its head, releasing a foul odor meant to deter predators. Many gardeners intentionally plant extra dill or parsley specifically to share with black swallowtail caterpillars without sacrificing their own herb harvest.
15. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
The Eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio glaucus) starts life resembling a bird dropping before transforming into a plump green caterpillar with two large, eye-like spots near its head that mimic a snake’s face. This false-eye defense is often enough to startle small predators like birds away from an easy meal.
This species feeds on tulip poplar, wild cherry, and sweetbay magnolia, all common trees across South Carolina’s forests and neighborhoods. As South Carolina’s official state butterfly, the Eastern tiger swallowtail is well documented by Clemson Cooperative Extension’s guide to South Carolina butterflies, which highlights its importance to backyard pollinator gardens.
16. Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
The spicebush swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio troilus) shares the same snake-mimicking false eyespots as its tiger swallowtail relative, but with a smoother green or yellow-green body and a slightly more compact shape. Young caterpillars fold leaves into small shelters, hiding inside during the day and emerging at night to feed.
This species relies on spicebush and sassafras as primary host plants, both native shrubs found throughout South Carolina’s understory forests. The South Carolina Native Plant Society’s guide to native host plants recommends planting spicebush specifically to support this and other native swallowtail species.
17. Cecropia Moth Caterpillar
The cecropia moth caterpillar (Hyalophora cecropia) is North America’s largest native moth caterpillar, growing to nearly five inches long with a pale green body covered in colorful, coral-like tubercles in blue, yellow, and red. Despite its bold, almost otherworldly appearance, this species is completely harmless to touch.
This caterpillar feeds on a wide range of trees, including cherry, maple, and birch, spinning a large brown papery cocoon for winter before emerging as one of the largest moths in North America the following spring. Anyone interested in the adult moths this caterpillar becomes can explore this guide to moths found throughout South Carolina for a closer look at the state’s largest flying insects.
18. Monkey Slug Caterpillar
The monkey slug caterpillar (Phobetron pithecium) is one of the strangest-looking caterpillars in South Carolina, with a flattened, hairy brown body and curling, leg-like projections that make it resemble a tiny discarded hairpiece more than an insect. These unusual projections carry stinging hairs capable of causing a mild to moderate skin reaction.
This species moves in an odd, slow-motion manner and feeds on a wide variety of deciduous trees and shrubs. Its bizarre shape is thought to confuse both predators and unsuspecting humans who might otherwise mistake it for plant debris or a shed spider molt.
19. Spotted Apatelodes Caterpillar
The spotted apatelodes caterpillar (Apatelodes torrefacta) has long, soft-looking pale yellow or cream-colored hair covering a plump body, giving it a fuzzy, almost cartoonish appearance. Despite looking touchable, the fine hairs can cause mild irritation in some people, so observation from a short distance is the safer choice.
This species feeds on a variety of hardwood trees, including ash, cherry, and oak, and is most often spotted in mid-to-late summer across South Carolina’s wooded areas. Its coloring can range from pale cream to soft yellow, sometimes with a scattering of small black spots along the back.
20. Io Caterpillar
The Io caterpillar (Automeris io) is a bright green caterpillar with rows of branching, venomous spines running along its body, and it ranks among the most painful stinging caterpillars found in South Carolina. A thin reddish-white stripe typically runs along each side, making this species relatively easy to identify at a glance.
Important Note: Contact with an Io caterpillar’s spines can cause an intense, burning sting similar to a bee sting, sometimes accompanied by swelling or a rash. Anyone stung should wash the area with soap and water and apply tape to lift out any broken spines still embedded in the skin.
This species feeds on a wide range of host plants, including roses, corn, and various shade trees, making backyard gardens a common place to encounter one.
21. Flannel Moth Caterpillar (Asp)
Often simply called an asp, the flannel moth caterpillar belongs to the same family as the puss caterpillar covered later in this guide, and the two names frequently describe the identical species found across South Carolina. This caterpillar’s dense, silky-looking hair conceals rows of venomous spines capable of delivering one of the most painful stings of any North American caterpillar.
Flannel moth caterpillars are most often reported on oak, elm, and citrus trees, as well as on ornamental shrubs planted close to homes. Because the hair looks so soft and harmless, this species causes far more accidental stings than any other caterpillar in the state, particularly among children who mistake it for a small tuft of cotton or fur.
22. Common Buckeye Caterpillar
The common buckeye caterpillar (Junonia coenia) has a dark, almost black body covered in branching spines and marked with small blue-white dots and orange accents near the head. Unlike the spines on stinging species, these are soft to the touch and pose no threat to humans.
This species feeds on plantain, snapdragon, and other low-growing plants common in lawns and open fields throughout South Carolina. Adult buckeye butterflies are easily recognized by the large, colorful eyespots on their wings, a pattern thought to startle predators long enough for the butterfly to escape.
23. Large Yellow Underwing Caterpillar
The large yellow underwing caterpillar (Noctua pronuba) is a smooth, dull brown to olive-green cutworm-type caterpillar that feeds at night and hides in soil or leaf litter during the day. Originally native to Europe, this species was accidentally introduced to Nova Scotia in the late 1970s and has since spread across much of North America, including South Carolina.
As one of the most common invasive noctuid moths in the region, its caterpillars can damage garden vegetables, turf grass, and ornamental plants by feeding on stems and leaves close to the ground. Because it is active mostly after dark, this species is far more often noticed through plant damage than by direct sighting.
24. Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
The pipevine swallowtail caterpillar (Battus philenor) has a dark, almost black or deep red-brown body covered in soft, fleshy orange-red tubercles rather than true spines. It feeds exclusively on pipevine species, absorbing toxic compounds that make both the caterpillar and adult butterfly unpalatable to predators.
This toxicity has made the pipevine swallowtail a model for several other butterfly species that mimic its dark coloring for protection, even though those mimics lack the actual toxins. Gardens near wooded creek edges, where wild pipevine often grows, give this species the best chance of establishing in a South Carolina backyard alongside garden visitors like the snakes covered in this guide to South Carolina’s native snake species.
25. Painted Lady Caterpillar
The painted lady caterpillar (Vanessa cardui) has a mottled dark body covered in branching spines and pale speckled markings, and it is one of the most widespread caterpillars in the world, found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. It feeds on a huge range of host plants, including thistle, mallow, and hollyhock.
This adaptability allows painted ladies to thrive in disturbed habitats, roadside ditches, and cultivated gardens equally well throughout South Carolina. The species is known for undertaking one of the longest migratory journeys of any butterfly, with some populations traveling thousands of miles across multiple generations.
26. Red Admiral Caterpillar
The red admiral caterpillar (Vanessa atalanta) has a spiny, dark body ranging from black to greenish-brown, and it constructs a distinctive shelter by folding a nettle leaf around itself and securing the edges with silk. This behavior makes the caterpillar difficult to spot even when its host plant is easy to find.
Stinging nettle serves as the primary host plant for this species throughout South Carolina, and the caterpillar feeds safely from within its folded leaf shelter, protected from most predators. Adult red admirals are fast, erratic fliers often seen sunning themselves on tree trunks or pathways during warm afternoons.
27. Hackberry Emperor Caterpillar
The hackberry emperor caterpillar (Asterocampa celtis) has a pale green body tapering to two short tail-like points at the rear, with faint yellow stripes running the length of its body. It feeds exclusively on hackberry trees, which are common along South Carolina’s river bottoms and floodplains.
Young caterpillars of this species often overwinter communally inside curled, silk-wrapped hackberry leaves, emerging together in spring to resume feeding as a group before eventually dispersing. Adult hackberry emperor butterflies are known for their unusual habit of landing on people to feed on sweat and salt rather than nectar.
28. Pearl Crescent Caterpillar
The pearl crescent caterpillar (Phyciodes tharos) is a small, dark brown to black caterpillar with rows of branching spines and a thin cream-colored stripe running along each side. It feeds on various aster species, which grow abundantly in fields, roadsides, and open meadows across South Carolina.
This species produces multiple generations each year in the Southeast’s warm climate, with caterpillars from the final generation overwintering partially grown before completing development the following spring. Pearl crescent butterflies are among the most commonly spotted small orange butterflies in South Carolina gardens and open fields.
29. Rosy Maple Moth Caterpillar
The rosy maple moth caterpillar (Dryocampa rubicunda), often called a green-striped mapleworm, has a pale green body with darker green stripes and a pair of short black horns near the head. This species feeds primarily on maple and oak trees and can occasionally appear in large enough numbers to noticeably defoliate individual branches.
The adult rosy maple moth that emerges from this caterpillar is one of the most colorful moths in North America, with soft pink and yellow wings that look almost artificial. Despite the vivid color of the adult moth, the caterpillar itself is a much more understated green and poses no risk to handle.
30. Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar
The spotted tussock moth caterpillar (Lophocampa maculata) has dense tufts of black and orange-yellow hair arranged in alternating bands along its body, with longer black hair pencils extending from the front and rear. Like other tussock moth caterpillars, the hairs can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
This species feeds on a variety of deciduous trees, including alder, birch, and willow, favoring moist woodland edges and stream banks throughout South Carolina. Its bold banded pattern makes it one of the more visually striking tussock caterpillars found in the state.
31. Mourning Cloak Caterpillar
The mourning cloak caterpillar (Nymphalis antiopa) is a spiny black caterpillar dotted with tiny white speckles and a row of bright red-orange spots running down its back. It feeds gregariously in groups on willow, elm, and hackberry trees, often stripping entire branches before dispersing to pupate individually.
This species is notable for producing one of the longest-lived adult butterflies in North America, with some individuals overwintering as adults in tree bark crevices and living up to ten or eleven months. Mourning cloaks are frequently among the very first butterflies seen flying on unseasonably warm winter days in South Carolina.
32. Forest Tent Caterpillar
The forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria) has a distinctive row of pale, keyhole-shaped white spots running down the center of its back, bordered by thin blue lines along a mostly dark blue-black body. Despite its name, this species does not build the classic web tent associated with true tent caterpillars, instead resting together on silk mats spun against tree bark.
Large outbreaks of this species can occasionally cause visible defoliation of oak, sweetgum, and tupelo trees in South Carolina, though healthy trees typically recover and refoliate within the same season. Populations of forest tent caterpillars tend to rise and fall in multi-year cycles driven by natural predators, disease, and weather conditions.
33. Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
The Gulf fritillary caterpillar (Agraulis vanillae) has a bright orange body covered in rows of black branching spines that look fearsome but carry no venom or sting. It feeds exclusively on passionflower vines, which are common in South Carolina gardens grown specifically to attract this species.
Gardeners who plant passionflower for pollinator gardens often find this caterpillar in large numbers, since the vine can support multiple generations across a single growing season in the state’s long, warm climate. The Clemson Cooperative Extension guide to butterfly gardening specifically recommends passionflower as a reliable way to attract Gulf fritillaries to home landscapes.
Pro Tip: Passionflower vines can grow aggressively once established. Planting them in a contained bed or against a trellis keeps Gulf fritillary host plants from overtaking nearby garden space while still attracting egg-laying females.
34. Zebra Swallowtail Caterpillar
The zebra swallowtail caterpillar (Eurytides marcellus) has a smooth green body marked with thin black and yellow bands near the head, resembling a small striped cucumber more than a typical swallowtail larva. This species feeds exclusively on pawpaw trees, a small native understory tree found in South Carolina’s bottomland forests.
Because pawpaw is the only host plant this caterpillar will accept, zebra swallowtail populations are directly tied to the health and distribution of pawpaw stands across the state. Adult zebra swallowtails are easily identified by their long, triangular wings striped in black and white with distinctive red and blue tail spots.
35. Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar
The cloudless sulphur caterpillar (Phoebis sennae) varies from bright yellow-green to a darker blue-green, often with small black speckles and a thin yellow or white stripe along each side. It feeds primarily on senna and partridge pea, both common wildflowers found along South Carolina roadsides and open fields.
This species can produce several generations per year in the state’s warm climate, with adult butterflies known for their strong, sustained flight during late summer and fall migrations. Cloudless sulphurs are among the most commonly seen yellow butterflies fluttering across South Carolina meadows from spring through late fall.
36. Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar
The hickory horned devil (Citheronia regalis) is the largest caterpillar in South Carolina, reaching up to five and a half inches long with a turquoise-green body and long, curved orange-red horns near the head. Despite its dramatic, dragon-like appearance, this species is completely harmless and does not sting or bite.
Important Note: The hickory horned devil’s intimidating horns are entirely for show and contain no venom. Its fearsome look is a bluffing defense meant to startle predators, and the caterpillar poses no actual danger to humans.
This species feeds on hickory, walnut, sweetgum, and persimmon trees before burrowing into the soil to pupate, eventually emerging as the equally massive regal moth, one of the largest moths in North America.
37. Stinging Rose Caterpillar
The stinging rose caterpillar (Parasa indetermina) has a colorful, almost gumdrop-shaped body in shades of yellow, orange, and purple, decorated with tufted clusters of venomous spines along its back and sides. Its bright coloring serves as a clear warning sign to potential predators and curious humans alike.
This species feeds on a variety of woody plants, including rose bushes, dogwood, and hickory, and contact with its spines typically causes a sharp, burning sensation similar to a nettle sting. Its vivid pattern makes it one of the easier stinging caterpillars in South Carolina to identify and avoid on sight.
38. Puss Caterpillar
The puss caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis) is the same species referenced as the flannel moth caterpillar earlier in this guide, and it is widely considered the most dangerous stinging caterpillar in South Carolina. Its soft, hair-covered body resembles a small tuft of fur or a tiny toupee, which makes its venomous spines especially easy to encounter accidentally.
- Avoid direct contact and do not brush the caterpillar off with bare skin.
- Apply and remove sticky tape over the sting site to pull out embedded spines.
- Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.
- Apply ice to reduce swelling and pain.
- Seek medical attention if severe pain, difficulty breathing, or an allergic reaction develops.
According to Clemson Cooperative Extension’s stinging caterpillar fact sheet, puss caterpillar stings can cause intense throbbing pain that sometimes radiates up an entire limb and may require medical treatment in severe cases.
39. Luna Moth Caterpillar
The luna moth caterpillar (Actias luna) has a plump, bright green body with faint yellow side stripes and small reddish tubercles scattered across each segment. It feeds on a variety of hardwood trees, including sweetgum, hickory, and persimmon, all common throughout South Carolina’s forests.
This species spins a papery cocoon among fallen leaves on the ground rather than attaching it to a tree branch, making the cocoon easy to accidentally disturb during fall leaf cleanup. The adult luna moth that emerges is one of the most recognizable moths in North America, with pale green wings and long, trailing tails that make it a favorite among nighttime insect enthusiasts who use light traps to observe the insect-eating bats that hunt them.
40. Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar
The Polyphemus moth caterpillar (Antheraea polyphemus) is a large, bright green caterpillar with silver-edged, diagonal yellow stripes and small reddish spots along its sides. It feeds on an especially wide range of host trees, including oak, maple, birch, and willow, making it one of the more adaptable giant silk moth caterpillars in South Carolina.
This species spins a dense, oval brown cocoon, sometimes wrapped in a leaf for extra camouflage before winter sets in. The adult Polyphemus moth is named for its large, prominent eyespots on the hindwings, which resemble the single eye of the mythological cyclops and serve as a startle display against predators.
South Carolina’s caterpillar diversity reflects the state’s broader insect richness, a pattern echoed in guides covering the state’s native beetles and grasshoppers. Comparing this list against caterpillars found in North Carolina or the far more limited species found in Maine shows just how much the Southeast’s warm, long growing season supports larval diversity compared to cooler climates.
Most caterpillars in South Carolina, from the garden-friendly parsley caterpillar to the massive hickory horned devil, are entirely safe to observe up close without any risk. The handful of stinging species covered in this guide, including the puss caterpillar, Io caterpillar, and stinging rose caterpillar, are the only ones that genuinely warrant a hands-off approach. Learning to recognize these few standouts allows anyone exploring South Carolina’s gardens, forests, and wetlands to enjoy the state’s caterpillars safely, whether that means raising a monarch through its full life cycle or simply admiring a hickory horned devil from a comfortable arm’s length.