I went to the Festival of Butterflies at Powell Gardens last weekend. http://www.powellgardens.org/ Needless to say, I got plenty of butterfly pictures! Here's pictures of the Cecropia Moth caterpillar. It was my fist time ever seeing one or even hearing of one. They sure are cool. He's the most colorful caterpillar I've ever seen. Dont quote me, but, I think the black stuff behind him is because he just got done molting. He's definately the first caterpillar I've ever saw that's almost as big as my finger! The orange tuberacles indicate this end is his head. [/img]
Gorgeous! He looks like someone decorated him with colourful beads, and the size is unreal. That black stuff, it looks like a poo to me.
Great fotos, Joann. Isn't it nice to have seen first the moth and then the caterpillar? That caterpillar looks like a beautiful X-File.
That's an amazing specimen, looks so alien in close-up. Notice the bead-shaped protrusions on the front are orange while elsewhere they are yellow. The blue is also very rich. Thanks for posting these Joann.
It always amazes me that when the moth emerges from the pupa it's colours are entirely different from the caterpillar. I think the moths are red and brown and yet that caterpillar is has so many vivid colours on its body. Thanks for the wonderful photographs you've posted Joanne - more please!!!
