Types of Lime Green Caterpillars

By Mason Howard
caterpillar image by Zlatko Ivancok from Fotolia.com

Even though they are often considered pests because of the voracious way they munch on vegetation, caterpillars are also marveled at for their strange, worm-like qualities. The dramatic transition of a caterpillar into a butterfly or moth is also a frequent metaphor for rebirth and renewal. Whether you are trying to identify a lime green caterpillar or are looking for one for artistic inspiration, several types of caterpillars, amongst the thousands of species, have astonishing green hues.

Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar

Hatched as bright yellow caterpillars, the polyphemus moth caterpillar turns bright green after its final molting. They grow up 4 inches long and also have silver spots along their bodies. Polyphemus moth caterpillars hatch at the commencement of spring as well as towards the close of summer. They grow into a fairly large moth, which has a wing span of up to 5 1/2 inches. They are found throughout North America.

Luna Moth Caterpillar

The luna moth has a black head and a bright lime green body with a series of red dots. Like the polyphemus moth, the luna moth is of the saturniid family. Saturniids molt five times as larva, and luna moth caterpillars are typically green throughout. They are commonly found in eastern Canada, the eastern United States and parts of northern Mexico. They grow up to 2 3/4 inches long, transitioning into a moth with a wing span of up to 4 1/2 inches. Host trees for luna moth caterpillars include maple, beech, birch, oak and citrus trees.

Tawny and Hackberry Emperor Caterpillars

The tawny and hackberry emperor caterpillars are two very similar caterpillars. While they are bright green, they are a bit less neon than the luna and polyphemus moth caterpillars. These caterpillars are also smaller, growing only up to about 1 1/2 inches long. They have brown heads and what makes them stand out is the antler-like protrusions. They both grow into butterflies that are typically brown, yellow and orange in their coloring. Both types of caterpillars use the hackberry tree, a type of elm, as their host, and are commonly found in eastern Canada, the eastern United States, some parts of the midwestern and southwestern United States and some parts of northeastern Mexico.

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