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I was out looking at the apple tree today to see if I have any fruit forming yet. not this year it seems, but then I find a caterpillar sitting on a leaf, and it looks like it's floating on it.

What type of caterpillar is this? caterpillar

Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL
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black thumb
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  • Photo's not good enough to see detail clearly, cant even tell if its actually a caterpillar, never mind what it is.Doesn't really look like a caterpillar from what I'm able to see.... – Bamboo Jun 25 '16 at 00:57
  • Might be a cocoon because it was floating on the surface of the leaf, and sprayed with threads. – black thumb Jun 25 '16 at 01:37

1 Answers1

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It seems like a young swallowtail caterpillar. Many swallowtail species share that "white arrow" bird-dropping stage. It should turn flashier in a few days.

I've only ever seen them on citrus trees, though.

  • Yep, I found one on the apple tree that looked like: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Osmeterium_of_swallow_tail_caterpillar.jpg Do they harm the tree? – black thumb Jun 27 '16 at 20:15
  • They are probably eating the leaves, but I don't think they will do much harm to an adult tree. Saplings can be completely defoliated, though. –  Jun 28 '16 at 01:11
  • It's an adult tree if it's not fruiting yet? It only has 5 feet and starting to bush out slightly. – black thumb Jun 28 '16 at 02:14
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    @blackthumb I think your tree should be safe but it will depend on the population of caterpillars relative to leaf surface.Their mother places them on new growth which is more nutritious. They'll only bother the older leaves if starving otherwise. Saplings get the short end by only having nutritious leaves. –  Jun 28 '16 at 03:01