Zebra caterpillar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zebra caterpillar
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Ceramica picta

The zebra caterpillar is a fascinating insect larva. It's actually the young form of a type of American moth. This moth is scientifically known as Melanchra picta. These caterpillars are named for their bright, striped patterns. They love to munch on plants like cabbages and beets. They also eat many other plants that farmers grow.

Meet the Zebra Caterpillar Moth

The zebra caterpillar grows up to become a moth. This moth belongs to a group called noctuid moths. Noctuid moths are often called "owlet moths." They are usually active at night.

What Does the Adult Moth Look Like?

The adult zebra caterpillar moth has a unique appearance. Its head, middle body (thorax), and front wings are usually a chestnut or reddish-brown color. The wings often have cool purplish-brown patterns. The back wings are lighter, almost whitish, with light brown edges. The moth's belly area (abdomen) is a light gray. When its wings are spread out, they measure about 35 to 40 millimeters wide. That's about the length of a small paperclip!

What Does the Caterpillar Look Like?

The zebra caterpillar changes its look as it grows.

• Young Caterpillars: When they first hatch, they are whitish. They have dark heads and small dark spots all over their bodies.
• Older Caterpillars: As they get bigger, their colors become much brighter. They have very clear black and bright yellow stripes running along their bodies.
  • The top stripe is black.
  • The stripe below that, and another one near their breathing holes (spiracles), are cream or bright yellow.
  • The stripe right around the spiracles and the very bottom stripe are black. These black stripes have many white lines and spots.
  • Sometimes, there's a faint light line down the middle of their back.
  • Their underside and legs are usually light reddish-brown or yellow.
  • Their head is reddish or reddish-brown and doesn't have any dark marks.

When fully grown, these caterpillars are about 35 to 40 millimeters long.

How Do Zebra Caterpillars Behave?

Zebra caterpillars have some interesting habits.

• Eating Habits: When they are very young, they stay together in small groups to eat. After they shed their skin (molt) for the first time, they spread out. Then, they munch on leaves all over the plant. They are active eaters during the daytime.
• Defense Mechanism: If a zebra caterpillar feels threatened or disturbed, it has a clever trick. It will roll up into a ball and drop to the ground. This helps it escape from predators.

Where Do Zebra Caterpillars Live?

You can find zebra caterpillars all over the United States. In the western states, they are known to eat many different types of plants. They often become a problem for farmers in the late summer. Sometimes, you might find zebra caterpillars living alongside other similar caterpillars. These include the bertha armyworm and the variegated cutworm.