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Neon green caterpillar #869821

Asked May 23, 2024, 4:14 PM EDT

I have never seen these before! I found several under a hardy geranium in my garden. The soil is very wet with a lot of dead leaves. I’m curious if I should leave it alone or if it will mature into a pest. Thank you

Anne Arundel County Maryland

Expert Response

Caterpillar ID can be very difficult when a species has few distinctive markings, as this one does. (There are many moth caterpillars with a similar appearance.) We can't tell which species this will mature into, but it is not one of the moth caterpillars that is considered a significant plant pest. You can leave them alone and if they are done feeding (they might have dropped off of a tree overhead) they will probably wander off to form a cocoon (or cocoon-less pupa) in a sheltered location, or they will be eagerly eaten by birds or other wildlife.

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 23, 2024, 7:01 PM EDT
Thank you, Miri

On Thu, May 23, 2024 at 7:01 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 24, 2024, 12:05 AM EDT
You're welcome.
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 24, 2024, 8:02 AM EDT

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