It's hard to believe that the butterfly, such an ephemeral creature of light and air, is responsible for such devastating crop damage in its larval stage. Caterpillars have been chewing away on veggies, ornamentals and field crops since agriculture began. The tell tale sign of caterpillar damage is ragged chewed up leaves or leaves with holes. Caterpillars can be bright and showy, or highly camouflaged, exactly matching the color of the plant. The larval stage of butterflies and moths, in the order Lepidoptera, come in an unlimited set of colors and forms. Luckily there are several extremely effective options for control.