Yard Critter - Lochmaeus Sp.

Lochmaeus manteo or Lochmaeus bilineata.

In a living language, Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar or Double-lined Prominent, respectfully.

Wagner, in his excellent Caterpillars of Eastern North America, after giving a number of field marks for L. manteo, notes that these caterpillars are often indistinguishable.

But I'm gonna distinguish it, based on the criteria in Wagner, and say that this is the Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar.

It is another small one. And another found initially out in the back pond area.

I actually found several of these critters, mostly by the back pond but in other areas of the yard.

And true to its name there were significant variations in appearance.

🐛  🐛  🐛 🐛  🐛

You can find all of the Yard Critter posts listed here.