2 to 4 questions are enough
Identify your caterpillars for free using a progressive elimination key. No AI, works offline — install the web app to always have it with you on nature walks.
- 1Answer the questionsHairiness, color, features…
- 2View the resultsCaterpillars matching your search criteria.
- 3Species sheetClick on a result to view the full species sheet.
While walking or watching your garden, you may have come across a caterpillar munching on a leaf or moving along the ground. Several questions may have crossed your mind: what butterfly will it become? What does it feed on? Is it dangerous to my crops? Is it stinging?
Find out in a few clicks the name of the caterpillar that crossed your path using a simplified identification key. Whether green or brown, small or large, smooth or hairy, its name will be a secret no more!
The 90 caterpillar species listed
Click on a species to access its full sheet with photos, description, host plants and distribution.
- Old World SwallowtailPapilio machaon
- Privet Hawk-mothSphinx ligustri
- Scarce SwallowtailIphiclides podalirius
- Lesser Yellow UnderwingNoctua comes
- Large TortoiseshellNymphalis polychloros
- Garden Tiger MothArctia caja
- ApolloParnassius apollo
- Large WhitePieris brassicae
- Willowherb Hawk-mothProserpinus proserpina
- Common QuakerOrthosia cerasi
- Two-tailed PashaCharaxes jasius
- Tau EmperorAglia tau
- Kentish GloryEndromis versicolora
- Copper UnderwingAmphipyra effusa
- StreakChesias legatella
- Small Elephant Hawk-mothDeilephila porcellus
- Bedstraw Hawk-mothHyles vespertilio
- Langmaid's Yellow UnderwingNoctua janthina
- Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronuba
- Lettuce SharkCucullia lactucae
- Southern SwallowtailPapilio alexanor
- Mullein SharkCucullia verbasci
- Spurge Hawk-mothHyles euphorbia
- Death's Head Hawk-mothAcherontia atropos
- Pine Hawk-mothSphinx pinastri
- Elephant Hawk-mothDeilephila elpenor
- Hummingbird Hawk-mothMacroglossum stellatarum
- Poplar KittenFurcula bifida
- Convolvulus Hawk-mothAgrius convolvuli
- Oleander Hawk-mothDaphnis nerii
- Puss MothCerura vinula
- Bedstraw Hawk-mothHyles gallii
- Poplar Hawk-mothLaothoe populi
- Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-mothHemaris fuciformis
- Lime Hawk-mothMimas tiliae
- Oak Hawk-mothMarumba quercus
- Willowherb Hawk-mothHyles hippophaes
- Eyed Hawk-mothSmerinthus ocellata
- BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni
- Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines
- Berger's Clouded YellowColias alfacariensis
- Small WhitePieris rapae
- Cotton BollwormHelicoverpa armigera
- Dun-barCosmia trapezina
- Goat MothCossus cossus
- Black-veined WhiteAporia crataegi
- Mallow SkipperCarcharodus alceae
- Purple HairstreakFavonius quercus
- Mottled UmberErannis defoliaria
- Buff-tipPhalera bucephala
- Six-spot BurnetZygaena filipendulae
- Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalis
- Spindle Ermine MothYponomeuta cagnagella
- Magpie MothAbraxas grossulariata
- Figure of EightDiloba caeruleocephala
- DrinkerEuthrix potatoria
- Grass EggarEriogaster catax
- Ground LackeyMalacosoma castrensis
- LackeyMalacosoma neustria
- Pale TussockCalliteara pudibunda
- Oak EggarLasiocampa quercus
- SycamoreAcronicta aceris
- Grey DaggerAcronicta psi
- Fox MothMacrothylacia rubi
- Pine-tree LappetDendrolimus pini
- Oak ProcessionaryThaumetopoea processionea
- VapourerOrgyia antiqua
- Grass EggarLasiocampa trifolii
- Gypsy MothLymantria dispar
- Brown-tailEuproctis chrysorrhoea
- Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta
- PeacockAglais io
- Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae
- Painted LadyVanessa cardui
- MapAraschnia levana
- Queen of Spain FritillaryIssoria lathonia
- Small Emperor MothSaturnia pavonia
- Giant Peacock MothSaturnia pyri
- White AdmiralLadoga camilla
- European CommaPolygonia c-album
- Spanish Moon MothGraellsia isabellae
- Pebble ProminentNotodonta ziczac
- Angle ShadesPhlogophora meticulosa
- Pine Processionary MothThaumetopoea pityocampa
- Jersey TigerEuplagia quadripunctaria
- The Cinnabar MothTyria jacobaeae
- Dot MothMelanchra persicariae
- Peppered MothBiston betularia
- Scarce DaggerAcronicta auricoma
- The MillerAcronicta leporina
Caterpillar not found?
With over 7,000 species in Europe, our database cannot cover them all. Share your photo on our Facebook page and we'll try to identify it.