Question
Katy, Texas

There are caterpillars dropping off live oak trees. Yellow stripes on their side.
Can you tell me about their life cycle?  My grandson wanted to see what kind of moth was produced.  Do they burrow in the soil?
Thanks

Answer
It is either the yellow neck caterpillar or the Orange-striped oakworm. Both have strips but have some differences. Here are web links to these with pictures that you can determine which one you have. I would guess the oragne striped oakworm.

Yellow neck
http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu/News%20columns/Yellownecked.caterpillar.htm

Orange-striped oakworm.
http://insects.tamu.edu/fromthefield/orangestriped_oakworm.html