Caterpillar Identification

"Lymantria dispar MHNT Chenille" by Didier Descouens - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lymantria_dispar_MHNT_Chenille.jpg#/media/File:Lymantria_dispar_MHNT_Chenille.jpg About This Insect Scientific Name: Lymantria dispar Food: just about anything What does it turn into?   See it here Does it sting? No. Will it destroy my garden? Yes, and your trees as well. Its appearance is a genuine emergency and you should report finding these caterpillars to the nearest museum or university. Since its importation from Europe in the mid-19th century, this species has been the most destructive forest pest in North America. Click here to see more caterpillars!     PanamaInsects.org

"Lophocampa" by The Tooth Fairy - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lophocampa.JPG#/media/File:Lophocampa.JPG About This Insect Scientific Name: Lophocampa caryae Food: hickory and other nut trees; ash, elm, oak willow What does it turn into?   See it here Does it sting? No, although the tufts may cause rashes and irritate mucous membranes. Will it destroy my garden? No. This species can sometimes defoliate trees, but it's not a major problem. Click here to see more caterpillars!

"Salt Marsh Caterpillar" by Alton N. Sparks, Jr., University of Georgia, Bugwood.org - This image is Image Number 1327039 at Insect Images, a source for entomological images operated by The Bugwood Network at the University of Georgia and the USDA Forest Service.. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 us via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salt_Marsh_Caterpillar.jpg#/media/File:Salt_Marsh_Caterpillar.jpg About This Insect Scientific Name: Estigmene acrea Food: cabbage, walnuts, apple, pea, clover, potato, and many other plants What does it turn into?   See it here Does it sting? No. Some people are sensitive to the caterpillar's hairs. Will it destroy my garden? No, although this is a very common species and can appear in numbers at times. Click here to see more caterpillars!