Identification Chart for the Furry Caterpillars in This Guide NameColorHabits Lymantria dispar (Gypsy moth) Red and blue raised bumps Major pest; can defoliate forests Banded woolly bear Black with red bands Moves quickly; often crosses roads Yellow woolly bear Pale yellow to dark orange Common on...
There is one major difference, however, between this species and all other coppers—in fact, all other butterflies in North America: the caterpillars are carnivorous. They feed on woolly aphids, small insects that infest alders and other trees, and as a result of this high-protein diet, grow...