Caterpillars mistaken for spongy moth caterpillars

Several types of caterpillars are commonly mistaken for spongy moth caterpillars. Use these checklists and images for identification.

On this page

• Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly
• Silver-spotted tiger moth
• Tussock Moth
• Tent caterpillar (Western and Northern)
• Winter moth

Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly

Some rare and endangered butterfly caterpillars resemble spongy moth caterpillars. However, to preserve butterfly populations, butterfly caterpillars should not be disturbed. If you have found a caterpillar and are uncertain of its species, leave it be.

Taylor checkerspot butterfly caterpillars:

• Are black and hairy
• Have a single row of yellow dots on their backs
• Feed on plants within Garry oak meadows, but not on the trees
• Are currently found only in a few locations on Denman Island and Buckley Bay

Note the black tufts of hair on the Taylor's checkerspot caterpillar, and the single row of reddish-orange dots.

Silver-spotted tiger moth

Silver-spotted tiger moth caterpillars

• Are large
• Actively feed between the early spring and early June
• Primarily feed on conifers (evergreens)
• Do not have any spots
• Have yellow hairs
• Produce dense webs on trees
• Often feed in groups

Note the yellowish tufts on the silver-spotted tiger moth caterpillars. Also, they do not have distinctive, coloured dots.

Tussock Moth

Tussock moth caterpillars

• Are hairy, with pencil-like tufts on the head and tail and "tussocks", or bunches of hairs, on the back
• Feed on Douglas-fir (Douglas-fir tussock moth) or both hardwood and evergreen trees (rusty tussock moth)
• Produce webbing, but not tents, on the trees they feed on

Note the two long tufts on the Douglas-fir tussock moth caterpillar's head, and the long bundles of hair on the body.

Tent caterpillar (Western and Northern)

Tent caterpillars:

• Usually feed in large groups
• Build large white tents of webbing
• Feed on the leaves of trees like Garry oak and alder, and fruit trees and ornamental shrubs
• Have short hairs on their bodies
• Have blue, orange or red spots

Note the masses of tent caterpillars gathered on a tent of webbing. Note also the shorter hairs on the body, and the white and yellow markings on the back.

Winter moth

Winter moth caterpillars:

• Are hairless and green
• Are found hiding within rolled leaves
• Feed on large, leafy trees like maple, oak and alder, and on fruit trees and ornamental shrubs
• Suspend themselves from a single strand of webbing

Note that the winter moth is green and hairless.