Caterpillars in Your Yard and Garden

Pickleworm

Snout and grass moths

Pickleworm caterpillars (Diaphania nitidalis) are present from summer to fall. They produce two to three generations per year.

Young caterpillars are light colored and covered with several black spots on each body segment. Full-grown caterpillars (0.75 to 1 inch long) lack the dark spots, and the body color can vary, depending on the host plant, from white to orange to green. Host plants are limited to cucurbits, such as cucumber, watermelon, muskmelon, and squash (summer and winter). Pickleworm caterpillars often cause serious damage.

About the family

Snout and grass moths are in the Crambidae family.