Identifying unknown caterpillars is not always easy. In this article you will find native caterpillar species with yellow color and their specific characteristics.

In a nutshell

  • In total there are over 3700 butterfly species in Germany
  • Well-known butterfly species with yellow caterpillars are the blue-headed, the cabbage white, the moon bird or the gooseberry moth
  • Some caterpillars prefer to live alone, while others appear in groups
  • yellow caterpillars occasionally grow to over 60 mm, but most specimens are 35-50 mm

Yellow caterpillars

Caterpillars can be of different colors. The colors red, green or yellow are common. The following listing includes native species known for their yellow hue.

Types from A - G

Bluehead (Diloba caeruleocephala)

Source: Ilia Ustyantsev from Russia, Diloba caeruleocephala (larva) - Figure of eight (caterpillar) - Синеголовка (гусеница) (40163801885), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • occurs in Europe
  • Caterpillar with yellow, white and black coloring
  • Name comes from the typical blue head
  • Wing span of about 40 mm
  • relatively thick caterpillars and pupae
  • Caterpillars emerge in spring
  • prefer to eat fresh leaves

Figwort Monk (Shargacucullia scrophulariae)

  • Caterpillars reach a length of about 50 mm
  • different basic colors of the caterpillar: some variants have a yellow-white color
  • Head is yellow with typical black dots
  • Pupa is also brown-yellow
  • expansive species widely distributed in western Europe
  • Figworm caterpillars exist from June to August
  • prefer to eat fruit, buds and flowers

Pea Owl (Ceramica pisi)

  • Yellow-green caterpillar
  • light yellow stripes are on the side and back
  • Caterpillars can grow up to 45 mm long
  • Pea Owl lives in East Asia and Europe
  • feels comfortable in different environments
  • Caterpillars hatch from the eggs after 10 days
  • prefers to eat flowers and leaves
  • widespread caterpillar species

Types of H - K

Hazel Owl (Colocasia coryli)

Source: Ben Sale from UK, Nut-tree Tussock Caterpillar (35865171961), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
  • the caterpillars grow up to 35 mm
  • light brown colour, yellow caterpillars are less common
  • The pupa of the caterpillar is rather light red to reddish brown
  • Caterpillars prefer to eat the leaves of various deciduous trees
  • lives in Europe and western Asia

Jacobean bear (Tyria jacobaeae)

  • known as Blood Bear and Carmine Bear
  • Caterpillars grow up to 30 mm
  • bright yellow color with black stripes
  • some white hairs on the caterpillar
  • black and yellow color protects as a warning against predators
  • sociable caterpillar species that often occurs in larger groups
  • feed on the ragweed, the poisonous effect of which cannot harm the caterpillars

Lesser Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

  • light-colored caterpillar grows up to 30 mm
  • black caterpillars with two yellow lateral lines
  • prefer to eat the nettle
  • the caterpillars of the Lesser Tortoiseshell butterfly eat a month before they pupate
  • Development time as a caterpillar between one and two months
  • Caterpillars are not threatened by birds because of their striking coloration

Mullein monk (Cucullia verbasci)

  • the caterpillar of the mullein monk has a whitish-yellowish basic coloration
  • bright yellow horizontal stripes characterize the look
  • the head of the caterpillar is yellow
  • the pupa is also brown-yellow and has a large trunk sheath
  • the mullein monk lives in North Africa and throughout Europe
  • the caterpillars feed mainly on species of mullein
  • live from May to pupation in autumn

Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae and Pieris rapae)

Source: Bernd Kirchberg, Cabbage White caterpillars, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • large and small cabbage white
  • yellow-green color
  • Wing span of up to 60 mm
  • young caterpillars like to stay in groups, older specimens are increasingly isolating themselves
  • prefer to eat various types of cabbage
  • Lifetime from June to October
  • The caterpillars can overwinter in mild years

Herb Monk (Cucullia lucifuga)

Source: Hectonichus, Noctuidae - Cucullia lucifuga - 3rd instar, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • black in color with yellow stripes on sides and back
  • in adult specimens, the stripes become red
  • are mainly found in Central Europe
  • prefer to eat flowers, fruits and buds
  • Herb Monk caterpillars move freely during the day
  • no danger from predators

Types of L - S

Bedstraw Hawk-Moth (Hyles gallii)

  • Caterpillars up to 80 mm in size
  • different color variants, one variant is black with conspicuous yellow spots
  • the head of the caterpillars is red
  • Caterpillars appear from July to September
  • feed mainly on bedstraw

Moonbird (Phalera bucephala)

  • the caterpillars of the moon bird are sociable specimens
  • black color with yellow horizontal and vertical stripes
  • Caterpillars live from July to August
  • eat the leaves of various shrubs and trees
  • up to 50 mm in size

Lovely bear (Callimorpha dominula)

  • up to 40mm long
  • dark gray with yellow stripes on the back and sides
  • Caterpillars are found in Europe and Asia, preferring to live in damp areas
  • young caterpillars prefer to move in caterpillars
  • eat different leaves from different shrubs

Gooseberry moth (Abraxas grossulariata)

Source: jean pierre Hamon (14), Caterpillar Abraxas grossulariata 01, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • variable coloring of the caterpillar
  • mostly the caterpillars are white-yellowish
  • black spots all over the caterpillar
  • becomes up to 32 mm long
  • loves warm regions
  • Egg larvae hatch after two weeks
  • Life time from June to August
  • feed mainly on the leaves of currants, gooseberries and other deciduous trees
  • The gooseberry moth overwinters in small cracks in the masonry or between leaves

Types of T - Z

Squirrel Hawk-Moth (Acherontia atropos)

  • Caterpillars grow up to 130 mm
  • color variations from yellow to brown to orange
  • Caterpillars appear in groups
  • Anal horn with forked tip
  • Development time of four weeks under favorable conditions
  • prefers to eat leaves of the nightshade family

Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)

Source: Harald Süpfle, Gonepteryx rhamni - caterpillar 08 (HS), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
  • the caterpillars have a dull green to yellowish color
  • bright longitudinal stripes act as camouflage
  • feeds preferably on the leaves of the shrubs, popular food is the alder buckthorn
  • Lifetime from May to June

frequently asked Questions

What is the difference between the small and large cabbage white butterfly?

The small cabbage white reaches a maximum size of 25 millimeters. In contrast, the large cabbage white can reach sizes of 40 millimeters. The dark dots are also clear characteristics that are primarily found in the larger specimens. The caterpillars of the small cabbage white are green with yellow stripes.

How many types of caterpillars are there?

Over 3700 species of butterflies are known in Germany. The insects go through various stages of development until, after pupating, they turn from caterpillars into beautiful moths. Thus, there are just as many types of caterpillars that make it difficult for you to identify them unequivocally.

Which caterpillar is poisonous?

The Jacobskrautbär are caterpillars that eat the poisonous Jacobkraut. The poison itself has no effect on the caterpillars. However, these absorb the poison and become dangerous for predators such as birds.

Category:

Animals in the garden