Ok, so I blew it. I got impatient and plucked the caterpillars before waiting for an answer. Maybe some more will show up.
I looked at the link you kindly provided -- if that isn't the exact match, then it is a different butterfly larva that looks almost exactly the same.
I actually did try searching the web for butterfly info, but didn't successfully find anything useful enough.
One interesting point -- you say you almost never lost a plant to insect consumption -- so should I just ignore this kind of thing? Or when is too much destruction too much?
Finally -- on the subject of snails -- I pay two little boys a nickel a snail to hunt for them in the spring. Not sure I prefer the raccoon method.
ps. this exchange is exactly why I think this blog is going to be fun!
Posted by rich at November 22, 2002 3:15 PM