top of page

Survey methods

While a number of techniques exist, we have found the following three to best suit our needs.

Photo of a UV flashlight (cropped to square dimensions).jpeg

1.  UV flashlights

Our main method is to go out after sunset, ultraviolet (UV) flashlights in hand, in search of caterpillars that fluoresce. Many caterpillar species fluoresce when UV light is shined on them and this fluorescence is much easier to see in the dark.​

Abbott's Sphinx - P7082060 (cropped to square dimensions).JPG

2.  Visual searches

On occasion, we do daytime sessions to search for caterpillars that feed on or within leaves (the latter are called leaf miners) or other plant parts, or that manipulate leaves in various ways to create shelters (leaf rollers/folders/tiers). On rare occasion, we have found caterpillars that feed on substrates such as fungi.

Beating sheet (reduced size).jpg

3.  Beating sheet

From time to time we sample vegetation using a beating sheet, either during the daytime or after sunset. However, we have found this method to be less productive than the other two methods.

Caterpillar fluorescing at night

Tobacco Hornworm

(aka Carolina Sphinx)

Tobacco hornworm (flash).jpg

Photo taken at night with a flash

Tobacco hornworm (fluorescing).jpg

Same individual fluorescing under UV light

bottom of page