Walk through an Ohio backyard, park, or woodland between May and September and there’s a good chance a caterpillar is nearby, whether it’s tucked under a leaf or crawling across a sidewalk in plain sight. These larvae range from harmless garden visitors to a horned giant the size of a hot dog, and knowing which is which makes every hike a little more interesting.
This guide covers seven caterpillars that show up again and again across Ohio, with notes on what each one eats, where to find it, and what it eventually becomes. Whether it’s munching milkweed in a garden or spinning a silk tent in a cherry tree, each species featured here plays a specific role in the state’s ecosystem.
Important Note: Estimates of how many caterpillar species live in Ohio vary by source. The Pet Enthusiast puts the number at just shy of one hundred and twenty caterpillar species, while other databases list figures closer to 150. The difference usually comes down to how broadly a source counts moth versus butterfly larvae, not a change in the actual population.
1. Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
The Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is one of the most recognizable caterpillars in Ohio’s insect population, largely thanks to its odd disguise. In its early growth stages, the young Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar is brown and white and changes color as it gets older. By the time it reaches maturity, it turns green and develops an orange and black false eye spot, which gives it a snake-like appearance that helps deter predators…