Thank you so much once again. Looks like there are 177 for my area before I even start (based on my location) I thought with this one looking grown up it would work.

Apatelodes torrefacta

I have a little beginner's book about identifying caterpillars that I can't find anywhere! But it shows the most common, most likely to be seen, caterpillars in the eastern U.S., as I recall. And I think it's by Peterson. If I were you, I'd get it, then, when you see a caterpillar that you can't ID, go to that book first. If you can't find your cat, find one in the books that has similar characteristics and look up caterpillars in that family.

I guess I'll have to order another one of those helpful little books.

The common name of your cat is spotted apatelodes. They come in white and yellow, I've seen both.

Sherry

I found my little book! The spotted apatelodes is in the little book, as are most of the cats you're likely to encounter.

The book is Peterson First Guides Caterpillars by Amy Bartlett Wright.

Sherry

Please let me know if you come across the name of this book. This is the view I have of my living room table right now. And there are a lot more books on the shelf. I suppose I am just a slow learner on this kind of thing. Great at numbers though.

Iris, it's Peterson First Guides Caterpillars by Amy Bartlett Wright. It's a simple little book, like one you'd buy for a child, but it's been SO helpful over the years.

Sherry

Note that the spines on Apateloides are 3 in number and are bicolored; spines on Dagger moth cat are 5 in number and all black, matching the Iris image. Black face is also prominent in many Dagger cat images. There are white and yellow forms of both cat species.

I'm not sure what the Discover checklist is if there are 177 species showing for your location.