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It is not easy to recognize a brown caterpillar in nature. Because of the coloring, the animals are well adapted to their environment and resemble twigs or dried leaves.

In a nutshell

  • a brown caterpillar is well adapted to its environment in color and protected from predators
  • different species can be very similar
  • In some cases it is difficult to distinguish precisely
  • control is not necessary or advisable in every case
  • in some cases, caution is advised when removing

distinguish species

It often takes extensive knowledge to tell one brown caterpillar apart from another. However, some clues can be used for orientation. These include, among others:

  • thickness
  • length
  • markings or drawings
  • hairiness
  • time of occurrence

Brown caterpillars from B to E

Bear Moth - Erebidae

The bear moths belong to the butterflies and are beautiful to look at as adults. The strong hair is particularly noticeable.

Source: LiCheng Shih, Erebidae (35506592512), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
  • maximum length: between 4.0 and 6.0 centimeters
  • Time of occurrence: between July and August
  • Diet: very large dietary spectrum of grasses, herbs, shrubs and deciduous trees
  • Colour: gray to brown in various shades
  • special features: small and raised black-brown elevations on the upper side that look like warts
  • Hair: strong

The caterpillars are comparatively easy to recognize because they are very hairy. However, there are more than 100 species of bear moths.

Broad-winged Band-Owl - Noctua comes

Source: Olei, Noctua.comes.6967, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • maximum length: 6 cm
  • Time of emergence: between autumn and mid-May, one generation per year
  • Nutrition: Flowers, berry bushes, herbs, sour cherries
  • Colour: reddish gray to greenish brown
  • Distinctive features: dark triangular spots along sides and rear end
  • Hair: absent

Broad-winged spotted bear - Spilosoma lubricipeda

Source: Quartl, Spilosoma lubricipeda qtl1, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • maximum length: up to 4.0 centimeters
  • Time of emergence: in two generations from May to September
  • Nutrition: herbaceous plants, berry bushes
  • Colour: grey-brown, black or red
  • special features: light stripe on the back
  • Hair: Very hairy but contrasting in color with the body

Beech Toothspinner - Stauropus fagi

The beech tooth moth belongs to the moth family, or Notodontidae in technical terminology, and also begins its cycle as a brown caterpillar.

  • maximum length: 6 cm
  • Time of occurrence: due to two generations, once from April to May and once from June to August
  • Diet: Deciduous trees such as beech, field maple, dogwood, English oak and hawthorn
  • special features: the front legs are long and conspicuous, the rear part of the body is calloused and sticks out
  • Hair: absent

Brown Bear - Arctia caja

  • maximum length: approx. 4.5 to 6.5 cm
  • Time of occurrence: between July and September
  • Diet: herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees
  • Colour: dark brown to black
  • special features: white, warty growths along the back, the head is rusty red
  • Hair: very long and dense

Oak Moth - Thaumetopoea processionea

  • maximum length: approx. 3 cm
  • Time of occurrence: between May and July
  • Diet: Leaves of deciduous trees such as beech, birch and oak
  • Colour: brownish, greyish with yellow dots
  • special features: strong and long hairs, can defoliate entire trees
  • Hair: stinging hairs that can cause allergic reactions and are dangerous

Notice: Combating these caterpillars makes a lot of sense because they pose a danger to humans, animals and the environment. Tree death in deciduous forests can be largely attributed to the harmful moths.

Brown caterpillars from G to M

Goldafter - Euproctis chrysorrhoea

Source: spacebirdy
(also known as geimfyglið (:> )=| made with Sternenlaus-spirit), Euproctis chrysorrhoea - Burgenland 2, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • maximum length: up to 3.5 to 4.0 centimeters
  • Time of Occurrence: July
  • Diet: fruit trees and oaks
  • Colour: brown with gold markings on the rear end
  • special features: often appear in large numbers
  • Hair: comparatively short

Housemother - Noctua pronuba

  • maximum length: up to 5.0 centimeters
  • Time of occurrence: between June and October
  • Nutrition: herbaceous and woody plants
  • Colour: brown with markings
  • special features: yellow characters with black lines
  • Hair: none present

Tip: The brown caterpillar and the moth itself are also known as owlet moths. From the third larval stage, they are nocturnal.

Medium Wine Moth - Deilephila elpenor

Source: Oooh, Medium Vine Hawk-Moth Deilephila elpenor-003, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
  • maximum length: up to 8.0 centimeters
  • Time of onset: between June and August, in mild climates again between August and September
  • Diet: fuchsias, balsam, purple loosestrife, evening primrose
  • Colour: green to black-brown in various shades
  • special features: black dots on the front half of the body
  • Hairiness: few and short

Brown caterpillars from T to Z

Peacock butterfly - Aglais io

  • maximum length: up to 4.5 to 6.5 centimeters
  • Time of emergence: Hatch from July to August as two generations
  • Diet: nettles
  • Colour: black with white dots
  • special features: occur in large numbers and can also be found indoors, provided with thorns
  • Hairiness: none

Hawthorn Owl - Allophyes oxyacanthae

The so-called hawthorn owl is a butterfly and belongs to the owl moth family. In technical jargon, these are also referred to as Noctuidae.

Source: Harald Süpfle, Allophyes oxyacanthae 04 (HS), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • maximum length: between 5.0 and 6.0 centimeters
  • Time of occurrence: between July and August
  • Diet: sloe and hawthorn
  • Colour: gray to brown with a dashed pattern
  • special features: small and raised black-brown elevations on the upper side that look like warts
  • Hair: sparse and short

White-gray lichen bear - Eilema caniola

Source: Slimguy, 2022 04 22 Eilema caniola, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 4.0
  • maximum length: up to 3.0 centimeters
  • Time of emergence: up to three generations from May to October
  • Diet: Lichens and flowers
  • Colour: Basic color light brown with reddish, dark spots
  • special features: warts
  • Hair: very bristly but sporadic

Cinnamon Bear - Phragmatobia fuliginosa

  • maximum length: up to 3.5 centimeters
  • Time of emergence: up to three generations from May to October
  • Diet: herbaceous plants from dandelion to blackberry leaves
  • Colour: Basic color black-grey with red-brown or grey-brown hairs
  • special features: stripes on the back
  • Hair: Very hairy but contrasting in color with the body

Notice: It does not look like a brown caterpillar, but rather appears reddish or even colorful.

frequently asked Questions

Can a brown caterpillar be poisonous?

If the animals feed on poisonous plants, this is quite possible. Hairy specimens can also cause skin and respiratory irritation.

How can the brown caterpillar be combated?

When the caterpillars damage plants in the garden, the desire for effective control is understandable. However, instead of using pesticides, it is better to collect them and release them elsewhere. Alternatively, killing is also possible if the species are harmful.

What precautions need to be taken?

When the caterpillars are read, direct contact with the skin should be avoided, especially in the case of hairy variants. Therefore, they should be removed either with gloves and a face mask or with tools.

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Category:

Animals in the garden