Instructions
Submit a high-quality, digital photo of the caterpillar via email to the University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum's department curator. Include a note that highlights your interest in the insect, identifies where you found the caterpillar and describes its activity upon discovery. Include your name, address, phone number and email address.
Send the caterpillar to the Arthropod Museum. Before sending it to the museum, you must prepare its body for shipment and examination. Kill the caterpillar by placing it into hot water for at least one minute and then drop it into a vial of alcohol. Send the caterpillar to:
Attention: Curator
Department of Entomology
319 Agriculture Building
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Access Bug Guide's official website. This online resource is operated by nature enthusiasts who help individuals correctly identify a variety of insects, spiders and bugs. Before you can use this service, you must complete the short registration process. Click "Register" and follow the on-screen prompts to register your account.
Log into your account using your username and password. Click "ID Request" and select the "Add Image" link. Upload a picture of the caterpillar and wait for other members to identify the mysterious insect.
How to Identify Caterpillars in Arkansas
The journey to unveil a caterpillar's identity can be challenging if you're unsure about resources designed to assist you with this task. To positively identify a caterpillar, you can submit photographs of the insect, along with a record of its characteristics and behaviors to individuals who specialize in entomology online or at the local community.