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Question:
My students are studying the lifecycle of the common caterpillars they find outside at this time of year. They have successfully captured and cared for some to the cocoon stage. Their question is: What is the difference between smooth caterpillars and fuzzy caterpillars?

Replies:
There is no simple difference between hairy and smooth caterpillars, it all depends on individual species characters. Caterpillars can be very hard to identify to species, though some are easy. Here's two of many web sites that may help:

http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/america/

http://pick4.pick.uga.edu/mp/20q?guide=Caterpillars

This site describes a very good book on North American caterpillars:

http://press.princeton.edu/titles/7939.html

J. Elliott

There is a book that may help available to the younger set as well as adults:

"Peterson's Guide to the Catepaillars"

Steve Sample

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