Then, out of frustration, I was letting myself be amused by a bumblebee buzzing around that landed on the tomato cage holding the Aunt Ruby. Maybe it was trying to tell me something?
Oh, heeeeello!
What say we take you inside, introduce you to the cats, let Simon terrorize you for a little while, and then launch you out into the middle of the front, VERY muddy yard. It's either that or pitch you into the pond! (I opted for front yard, figuring I'd give it a chance at the weeds!)Yes, I'm weak. I couldn't squish it. Brett was harping on me to be nice to it and set it free anyhow. I blame him. ;-) (No, really, I'm weak)
7 comments:
What great camouflage!
That's one cool - hungry - mater munchin critter...
I think they grow up to be those lunar moths - the BIG ones!
Wait - it's baby MOTHRA!
i'm glad you didn't kill it, too. i mean, you grow tomatoes so you can eat them...can you really blame something else for eating them first?
and i agree. what great camouflage! actually, what a really great looking caterpillar!
ok, are you ready for this? i have to really thank you for posting this, jeph, because it got me to looking around on the web and i came across some great stuff (or at least to me).
first, i was thinking there has to be a site that allows you to identify caterpillars and what they become. i did some searching and came across this site (these sites are split lines so as to fit the entire url. you'll have to copy paste)
http://pick4.pick.uga.edu/
mp/20q?guide=Caterpillars
which allows you to choose the features and it gives you possible matches.
did that and came to look at this one
http://pick4.pick.uga.edu/mp/
20q?search=Sphinx+drupiferarum
&guide=Caterpillars
and this one
http://pick4.pick.uga.edu/mp/
20q?search=Ceratomia+undulosa&
guide=Caterpillars
as ones that looked about right. frankly, the phots aren't as good as yours. but i thought the first one was a better match because of the red horn/tail.
so then i got to wondering what the first one became, so i did a search on the scientific name and came up with this
http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/
sdrupife.htm
which gives nice details on what it becomes as an adult.
now, does that look about accurate, or can someone else come up with a more definite match? i love this :)
bookmarked! now i need to locate that spider guide....
thanks jeph!!
Oh very interesting!!! They look very similar, but there are some minor notable differences... Thanks - that's very cool - I'll have to try looking up some other caterpillars. I know Mary (at work) has hatched a monarch from a caterpillar already, and I think has another one or two?
I think they used to feed those to contestants on Fear Factor. If you can get past the needle-sharp little red hook on the top of their nasty little heads, well, apparently they taste just like they look: NASTY!
she uses "NASTY!" in the same way that "bad," "mean," and "gag inducing" are sometimes used: cool.
at least that is what i am assuming "gag inducing" means for the purpose of this discussion.
otherwise, i would have to reconsider the context of its use and my feelings might be hurt.
but that's another story.
Post a Comment