#winter cutworm

[onenicebugperday]

I just found this caterpillar outside of my place of work... which is highly unusual given it is the middle if December in mid-Michigan! Can you help me figure out what they are? Why are they here? There are some greenhouses nearby... could they have come from there? Thanks for any info you can give@

Looks like a large yellow underwing. Sometimes the caterpillars are called winter cutworms because they spend the winter as caterpillars and pupate in the spring. It's normal for them to come out on milder days in the winter and have a little snack if they can find one. So it may have been hiding in the greenhouse, but could've just been out and about!

[beetlebee1]

My little angel 🥺🖤

[onenicebugperday]

@applebeesbarandgrillmenu-archive submitted: hey, this was found in southwest oregon, do you have any idea what it is? these grubs(?) can get 3-4 times this large and they live in the soil?

Yes, it's not a grub! It's a noctuid moth caterpillar. Probably a large yellow underwing which is sometimes called the winter cutworm because they tend to be active in late fall and winter when there are days above freezing. They hide in the soil during the day and come out at night to eat plants. They also pupate in the soil and emerge as adult moths in spring or summer.