[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":495},["ShallowReactive",2],{"identifier_en:\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-gusenitse":3,"alt-locale:identifier_en:\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-gusenitse":444,"section-listing:disabled":457,"related-covers:en:":458,"section-listing:identifier_en:\u002Fopredelitel":459},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"coverImage":438,"description":439,"extension":440,"faq":441,"imagePrompt":442,"meta":443,"navigation":444,"order":445,"pageType":446,"path":447,"publishedAt":448,"readingMinutes":449,"relatedLinks":441,"seo":450,"sitemap":453,"stem":455,"tags":441,"updatedAt":454,"__hash__":456},"identifier_en\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-gusenitse.md","By caterpillar",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":425},"minimark",[9,14,18,39,42,46,49,64,73,79,88,97,99,103,106,115,121,130,146,148,152,159,168,177,186,195,197,201,204,210,216,218,222,225,234,243,252,261,270,272,276,282,285,294,296,300,303,387,389,393,396,412],[10,11,13],"h2",{"id":12},"why-identify-the-caterpillar","Why identify the caterpillar",[15,16,17],"p",{},"You find caterpillars more often than adult butterflies: they are slow, live on a plant for weeks, and are easy to see. If you want to know which butterfly will emerge, or simply who is “eating” your allotment or garden — this guide is for you.",[15,19,20,21,25,26,25,29,25,32,25,35,38],{},"Key caterpillar traits for identification: ",[22,23,24],"strong",{},"colour and pattern",", ",[22,27,28],{},"presence of hairs",[22,30,31],{},"horns and projections",[22,33,34],{},"host plant",[22,36,37],{},"size",".",[40,41],"hr",{},[10,43,45],{"id":44},"green-caterpillars","Green caterpillars",[15,47,48],{},"Green is the most common colour: camouflage among foliage.",[15,50,51,54,55,59,60,63],{},[22,52,53],{},"Swallowtail caterpillar"," (",[56,57,58],"em",{},"Papilio machaon",") — green with black transverse bands and orange-red spots on each segment. Up to 45 mm long. Feeds on umbellifers (carrot, dill, hogweed). When touched it extends a soft orange forked ",[22,61,62],{},"osmeterium"," with a sharp smell.",[15,65,66,54,69,72],{},[22,67,68],{},"Scarce swallowtail caterpillar",[56,70,71],{},"Iphiclides podalirius",") — green with a yellow lateral band and oblique yellow stripes. Feeds on rosaceous plants: blackthorn, plum, cherry, hawthorn.",[15,74,75,78],{},[22,76,77],{},"White caterpillars"," (large white, small white, black-veined white) — greenish or grey-green with longitudinal yellow stripes and black dots. Feed on crucifers (large and small white) or rosaceous plants (black-veined white).",[15,80,81,54,84,87],{},[22,82,83],{},"Brimstone caterpillar",[56,85,86],{},"Gonepteryx rhamni",") — uniformly green, very leaf-like. Feeds on buckthorn.",[15,89,90,54,93,96],{},[22,91,92],{},"Bedstraw hawk-moth caterpillar",[56,94,95],{},"Hyles gallii",") — green or dark brown with a row of yellowish spots along the sides and a red “horn” at the rear. Feeds on bedstraw and fireweed.",[40,98],{},[10,100,102],{"id":101},"hairy-and-woolly-caterpillars","Hairy and woolly caterpillars",[15,104,105],{},"Hairs protect mechanically from predators and parasitoids; in some species they are chemical (hairs contain irritants).",[15,107,108,54,111,114],{},[22,109,110],{},"Garden tiger",[56,112,113],{},"Arctia caja",") — densely covered with russet and black hairs; from a distance like a small fur ball. Do not handle: hairs irritate the skin. Feeds on mixed herbs — nettle, sorrel, plantain.",[15,116,117,120],{},[22,118,119],{},"“Woolly bear” (Arctia caterpillars)"," — often on paths and roads in late summer. Caterpillars of various tiger moths seeking a pupation site.",[15,122,123,54,126,129],{},[22,124,125],{},"Brown-tail moth",[56,127,128],{},"Malacosoma neustria",") — bluish caterpillar with a brown dorsal stripe and long white lateral hairs. Lives in colonies in silk “tents” on fruit trees; can defoliate branches. A garden pest.",[15,131,132,54,135,138,139,54,142,145],{},[22,133,134],{},"Black arches",[56,136,137],{},"Lymantria monacha",") and ",[22,140,141],{},"gypsy moth",[56,143,144],{},"Lymantria dispar",") — caterpillars with long tufts of hair, grey with red and blue tubercles. In outbreaks they defoliate large forest areas.",[40,147],{},[10,149,151],{"id":150},"caterpillars-with-a-rear-horn-hawk-moths","Caterpillars with a rear horn (hawk moths)",[15,153,154,155,158],{},"A hallmark of ",[22,156,157],{},"hawk moths (Sphingidae)"," is a fleshy “horn” or bump on the last abdominal segment. Horn colour often contrasts with the body.",[15,160,161,54,164,167],{},[22,162,163],{},"Death’s-head hawk moth",[56,165,166],{},"Acherontia atropos",") — large caterpillar (up to 12 cm), yellow-green or brown with oblique violet stripes; horn dark, hooked. Feeds on potato, nightshade, ash.",[15,169,170,54,173,176],{},[22,171,172],{},"Oleander hawk moth",[56,174,175],{},"Daphnis nerii",") — bright green with a blue “eye” in a white ring near the head. Feeds on oleander and periwinkle; in Russia a rare vagrant.",[15,178,179,54,182,185],{},[22,180,181],{},"Elephant hawk moth",[56,183,184],{},"Deilephila elpenor",") — brown or green caterpillar with large “eyes” near the front (mimics a snake’s head when threatened). Feeds on rosebay willowherb, fireweed, bedstraw.",[15,187,188,54,191,194],{},[22,189,190],{},"Privet hawk moth",[56,192,193],{},"Sphinx ligustri",") — green with oblique white stripes and a violet horn. Feeds on lilac, privet, ash.",[40,196],{},[10,198,200],{"id":199},"caterpillars-with-eyes-false-eyes","Caterpillars with “eyes” (false eyes)",[15,202,203],{},"Several species have large false “eyes” on the front of the body — to scare birds, mimicking a snake or owl head.",[15,205,206,209],{},[22,207,208],{},"Hawk moths"," — as above; the elephant hawk moth is especially striking.",[15,211,212,215],{},[22,213,214],{},"Poplar clearwing"," and some others — small caterpillars with spots mimicking eyes on the enlarged prothorax.",[40,217],{},[10,219,221],{"id":220},"caterpillars-with-spines-nymphalids","Caterpillars with spines (nymphalids)",[15,223,224],{},"Many nymphalids have branched or simple spines — they complicate body shape and hinder swallowing.",[15,226,227,54,230,233],{},[22,228,229],{},"Small tortoiseshell",[56,231,232],{},"Aglais urticae",") — black with yellow-white dots and a row of short branched spines over the body. Lives in groups on nettle in a “nest” of woven leaves.",[15,235,236,54,239,242],{},[22,237,238],{},"European peacock",[56,240,241],{},"Aglais io",") — similar to tortoiseshell but spines longer. Also on nettle, in large groups.",[15,244,245,54,248,251],{},[22,246,247],{},"Painted lady",[56,249,250],{},"Vanessa cardui",") — grey-greenish with yellow lateral spots and spines. Solitary; wraps a leaf in silk. On thistle, burdock.",[15,253,254,54,257,260],{},[22,255,256],{},"Red admiral",[56,258,259],{},"Vanessa atalanta",") — dark with yellow spots and branched spines. Solitary, in a tube of nettle leaves.",[15,262,263,54,266,269],{},[22,264,265],{},"Mourning cloak",[56,267,268],{},"Nymphalis antiopa",") — black with red spots and black spines. Lives in groups on willow, birch, poplar.",[40,271],{},[10,273,275],{"id":274},"looper-caterpillars-geometrids","“Looper” caterpillars (geometrids)",[15,277,278,281],{},[22,279,280],{},"Geometrid"," caterpillars are easy to recognize by locomotion: they lack some abdominal prolegs and move in a loop, pulling the rear toward the front — “inching”.",[15,283,284],{},"Colour is varied: green, brown, grey — usually good camouflage. At rest they often stand vertically, mimicking a twig.",[15,286,287,54,290,293],{},[22,288,289],{},"Winter moth",[56,291,292],{},"Operophtera brumata",") — green caterpillar with white longitudinal stripes. In spring defoliates oak, apple, cherry — a major orchard pest.",[40,295],{},[10,297,299],{"id":298},"host-plant-as-a-key-to-identification","Host plant as a key to identification",[15,301,302],{},"Host plant is one of the main traits. Find the caterpillar on a specific plant and you immediately narrow candidates:",[304,305,306,319],"table",{},[307,308,309],"thead",{},[310,311,312,316],"tr",{},[313,314,315],"th",{},"Plant",[313,317,318],{},"Likely caterpillar species",[320,321,322,331,339,347,355,363,371,379],"tbody",{},[310,323,324,328],{},[325,326,327],"td",{},"Nettle",[325,329,330],{},"Tortoiseshell, peacock, admiral, painted lady",[310,332,333,336],{},[325,334,335],{},"Umbellifers (carrot, dill)",[325,337,338],{},"Swallowtail",[310,340,341,344],{},[325,342,343],{},"Blackthorn, plum, cherry",[325,345,346],{},"Scarce swallowtail, black-veined white, brown-tail moth",[310,348,349,352],{},[325,350,351],{},"Crucifers (cabbage)",[325,353,354],{},"Large white, small white, cabbage moth",[310,356,357,360],{},[325,358,359],{},"Rosebay willowherb (fireweed)",[325,361,362],{},"Bedstraw hawk moth, elephant hawk moth",[310,364,365,368],{},[325,366,367],{},"Birch, willow, poplar",[325,369,370],{},"Mourning cloak, admirals, various noctuids",[310,372,373,376],{},[325,374,375],{},"Buckthorn",[325,377,378],{},"Brimstone",[310,380,381,384],{},[325,382,383],{},"Grasses, sedge",[325,385,386],{},"Satyrines (small heath, meadow brown, ringlet)",[40,388],{},[10,390,392],{"id":391},"what-to-do-with-a-found-caterpillar","What to do with a found caterpillar",[15,394,395],{},"If you want to watch metamorphosis:",[397,398,399,403,406,409],"ol",{},[400,401,402],"li",{},"Move the caterpillar to a ventilated container with space.",[400,404,405],{},"Provide fresh host-plant sprigs — change daily.",[400,407,408],{},"When it stops eating and starts to “wander” it is ready to pupate. Add twigs for the pupa to attach to.",[400,410,411],{},"Release the butterfly as soon as it ecloses.",[15,413,414,415,420,421,38],{},"More on development — in ",[416,417,419],"a",{"href":418},"\u002Fen\u002Fentsiklopediya\u002Fzhiznennyj-tsikl","life cycle"," and ",[416,422,424],{"href":423},"\u002Fen\u002Fslovar\u002Fmetamorfoz","metamorphosis",{"title":426,"searchDepth":427,"depth":427,"links":428},"",2,[429,430,431,432,433,434,435,436,437],{"id":12,"depth":427,"text":13},{"id":44,"depth":427,"text":45},{"id":101,"depth":427,"text":102},{"id":150,"depth":427,"text":151},{"id":199,"depth":427,"text":200},{"id":220,"depth":427,"text":221},{"id":274,"depth":427,"text":275},{"id":298,"depth":427,"text":299},{"id":391,"depth":427,"text":392},"\u002Fimages\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-gusenitse.png","Caterpillar identification guide: green, hairy, with a horn, with eyespots, with spines. How to tell which butterfly will emerge from a caterpillar you found.","md",null,"Photorealistic macro photo, Papilio machaon caterpillar on carrot plant — bright green with black and orange markings, detailed texture, shallow depth of field, natural garden setting, identification guide aesthetic, 16:9",{},true,6,"identifier","\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-gusenitse","01.05.2026",1,{"title":451,"description":452},"Butterfly caterpillar identification guide — by colour, shape, and traits","How to identify a butterfly caterpillar: green, hairy, with a horn, with eyespots. Table of caterpillar traits and butterfly species.",{"loc":447,"lastmod":454},"27.07.2026","opredelitel\u002Fpo-gusenitse","BH3jfmKeia-JNuUx3rZYpWx-CQaZjgTB9JJZvP-mgUs",[],[],[460,465,470,476,482,488,489],{"title":461,"description":462,"path":463,"coverImage":464,"publishedAt":448,"order":449},"By wing colour","Butterfly identification by wing colour: find a species by main colouration — from white whites to blue blues and patterned nymphalids.","\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-cvetu-krylev","\u002Fimages\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-cvetu-krylev.png",{"title":466,"description":467,"path":468,"coverImage":469,"publishedAt":448,"order":427},"By size","Butterfly identification by size: from tiny blues with a 15 mm wingspan to giant birdwings with wings wider than 25 cm — a quick guide by wingspan.","\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-razmeru","\u002Fimages\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-razmeru.png",{"title":471,"description":472,"path":473,"coverImage":474,"publishedAt":448,"order":475},"By wing shape","Butterfly identification by wing shape: tails, scalloped edges, angular tips, rounded and elongated wings — with species examples.","\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-forme-krylev","\u002Fimages\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-forme-krylev.png",3,{"title":477,"description":478,"path":479,"coverImage":480,"publishedAt":448,"order":481},"By place of encounter","Butterfly identification by place of encounter: meadow, forest, woodland edge, garden, bog, mountains, coast — which species live where.","\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-mestu-vstrechi","\u002Fimages\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-mestu-vstrechi.png",4,{"title":483,"description":484,"path":485,"coverImage":486,"publishedAt":448,"order":487},"By time of year","Seasonal butterfly identification guide: which species fly in March, April, May, June, July, August, and autumn — with examples by month.","\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-vremeni-goda","\u002Fimages\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-vremeni-goda.png",5,{"title":5,"description":439,"path":447,"coverImage":438,"publishedAt":448,"order":445},{"title":490,"description":491,"path":492,"coverImage":493,"publishedAt":448,"order":494},"Common identification mistakes","The most common mistakes when identifying butterflies: confusing sexes, seasonal forms, similar species. Each case explained with examples.","\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fchastye-oshibki-pri-opredelenii","\u002Fimages\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fchastye-oshibki-pri-opredelenii.png",7,1787125911591]