What Do Butterflies Eat as Caterpillars?
For many butterflies the long caterpillar stage is the only time that they actually eat. After the caterpillar hatches from the egg it begins to feed. Caterpillars consume huge amounts of food. There are caterpillars that are very specialized, like the Pearl Crescent caterpillars. They will only eat a specific species of asters. Others, like Gray Hairstreaks, will eat many different kinds of leaves and plant materials. The caterpillar will feed until it grows too big for its skin and then it will shed its skin. This process will be repeated until it is time for the caterpillar to make a cocoon. Most butterfly caterpillars are not garden pests. They tend to eat only those plants that they are attracted to. The caterpillars that eat the tomato plants in your garden are most likely moths.
