# Need help identifying this caterpillar please **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** gardening\ **Created:** [May 21, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883 "2024-05-21T19:27:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/1 "2024-05-21T19:27:39Z")
It’s eating my Lilac bush. What is it and how do I rid myself of them? [The culprit.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/b6aee11b-c0a6-4967-8510-865efac31e44_l.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/2 "2024-05-21T19:37:39Z")
Additional info: it leave a shiny, sticky residue on the leaves. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/3 "2024-05-21T20:08:03Z")
Google image search says canker worm. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/4 "2024-05-21T20:09:46Z")
Where are you located? It looks a little like a [lost sallow](http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/lost_sallow.html), but they seem to have a black band behind the head that isn’t apparent in your photo. Does it have legs continuously down the body, or is the middle section legless like an inchworm? ---
**Author:** ![Humans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dfb087/32.png) [@Humans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humans)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/5 "2024-05-21T20:22:03Z")
Try asking Chatgpt or Gemini, I hear they’re really good at identifying species of animals ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/6 "2024-05-21T21:18:19Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Google image search says canker worm. That looks like it may be it. > [@markn\_1](#): > > Where are you located? Central coast California. > [@markn\_1](#): > > It looks a little like a [lost sallow](http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/lost_sallow.html), but they seem to have a black band behind the head that isn’t apparent in your photo. It looks like it might be the Sallow too but that seems to be a northern thing. Thanks all. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/7 "2024-05-21T21:26:16Z")
Google told me it is a [Mottled umber.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mottled_umber) [![](https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2020-11/33874001528_a72028cd60_o.jpg) ](https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2020-11/33874001528_a72028cd60_o.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/8 "2024-05-21T22:40:00Z")
Hmmm, you might be right. I really did try to google it, but my Google-fu has a lot to be desired. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/9 "2024-05-22T03:38:02Z")
Wikipedia’s description of the range of the mottled umber doesn’t coincide very well with @Lucas_Jackson’s stated location: > The species can be found in western Europe from northern Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, then east to the Caucasus, northern Iran, Russia, Russian Far East, and Ussuri. Wheras the fall cankerworm is more locationally appropriate ([Alsophila pometaria - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alsophila_pometaria)): > It is found in North America from Nova Scotia west to Alberta, south to Colorado and California ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/10 "2024-05-22T18:07:10Z")
Thanks for that. Regardless, as much as I hate spraying chemicals, I love my Lilac bush more so I must take action. Does anyone have any experience with Neem oil? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/11 "2024-05-22T18:57:21Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Does anyone have any experience with Neem oil? No. I am seeing recommendations of a bacterial pesticide made with _Bacillus thuringiensis_ bacteria. Super-specific, only affects caterpillars and a few fly and beetle larva. > **[Bacillus thuringiensis | Use of spores and proteins in pest control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis#Use_of_spores_and_proteins_in_pest_control)** > > Spores and crystalline insecticidal proteins produced by B. thuringiensis have been used to control insect pests since the 1920s and are often applied as liquid sprays. They are now used as specific insecticides under trade names such as DiPel and Thuricide. Because of their specificity, these pesticides are regarded as environmentally friendly, with little or no effect on humans, wildlife, pollinators, and most other beneficial insects, and are used in organic farming; however, the manua New str... ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/12 "2024-05-22T19:27:13Z")
You might want to look at the [University of California Integrated Pest Management](https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/invertebrates/links.caterpillars-woody.html) site, which will help identify the caterpillar and also suggest solutions to control it. Skimming through that site, I’m thinking [Omnivorous Looper](https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/PESTS/omnilooper.html) is another possibilty (also a great band name), although it seems larger than the example in your photo. They suggest Bacillus thuringiensis as mentioned by gnoitall above, for both Ominvorous Looper and Fall Cankerworm. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-this-caterpillar-please/1001883/13 "2024-05-22T21:39:21Z")
OK, Bacillus thuringiensis it is. Just picked up some from Home Depot. Thanks again.