Cecropia Moth Larva
The Cecropia Moth caterpillar can grow to be up to be very large. In fact, the one in this picture is about 4 inches in length and about the same diameter as your thumb! Well, like they always say, big caterpillars make even bigger moths. In fact, male Cecropia moths are the largest moth in North America and an adult can have a wingspan of 4 to 6 inches. The larva is mostly green with blue, yellow and red tubercles or knobs along its body. The adult moths are mostly brown with large furry antennas.

Painted Lady Butterfly
The Painted Lady butterfly is a small member of the Lepidoptera family and only has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. These butterflies are common in the Adirondacks and often are the butterfly of choice for anyone raising them at home or in the classroom. Painted Ladys are very hardy and can adapt well to different environments. Painted lady caterpillars are usually small and black, with orange or yellow markings on their sides. The larva can often be seen eating daisies, thistle and mallow.

Monarch Butterfly
Monarch butterflies are well known, because they are one of the few North American species that migrate south for the winter. These fairly large, orange and black butterflies will travel from Up Yonda Farm in northern New York, all the way to Mexico where they can breed and spend the winter. Often a butterfly’s life is short-lived, but somehow, the adults that migrate south also survive to fly north again to lay their eggs. This entire cycle takes about 9 months. Monarch caterpillars can be found munching on their favorite food; the milkweed plant and are easily recognized by their yellow and black stripes.

Great Spangled Fritillary
This is a large butterfly, having a wingspan of about 3 inches. Fritillaries are very strong fliers, so they are not the easiest butterfly to catch. The Great Spangled Fritillary is mostly orange with brown markings on the top of its wings, while the underside of the wings have several silver spots. You can find these butterflies in meadows and they love to eat plants such as violets and black-eyed susan.

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly
The Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is another large species and can a wingspan of up to 4.5 inches! This species looks similar to other Swallowtails, like the Pipevine Swallowtail, which tastes bad to birds. However, the Spicebush is an eastern species, while the Pipevine are less common in the Adirondacks. The Spicebush Swallowtails are identified by the light blue spots along the edge of its wings and the two large patches of blue around the base of the wings. Pipevines have more of an iridescent green color on their wings.

Honey Bee
Honey Bees are often thought of as harmful to humans, but they are nothing to be afraid of. In fact, if a honey bee ever stung you, it would lose its stinger and die! Wasps and hornets are more dangerous, because they have a smooth stinger, which will not fall out when they sting, which means that the same insect could sting you numerous times! Honey Bees are essential for pollination and the honey that they make can be harvested from their hives. However, don’t take too much, because the queen and worker bees will need that honey to survive the winter.

Giant Water Bug
If you have ever been to an Aquatic Adventure program at Up Yonda Farm, then you have probably seen a Giant Water Bug. These insects are the largest of the true bugs and have large pinchers, which are used to bite prey. Once pinched, the fish, insect or tadpole will become paralyzed and the Giant Water Bug can eat it. These insects are not harmful to humans but remember the next time that you go swimming, if you go outside of the ropes and put your feet down in the gooey bottom, that is where these creatures like to live!