Friday, September 4, 2009

Fuzzy Caterpillar

When I Googled this caterpillar to find out what kind he is, I was surprised to learn what a nondescript brown moth he's going to turn out to be (a lophocampa maculata, or spotted tussock moth, if you want to Google a photo). He's kind of flamboyant as a larva, isn't he?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

this caterpillar is poisiness

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I am a biochemist at Lewis & Clark College. I am doing a research project on Lophocampa maculata and would like to get some info on your caterpillar photos. Please contact me at kgs@lclark.edu. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

I saw this caterpillar near the shore in california. we wondered what kind of a butterfly it turns into. Turns out its a moth! thanks, wonderful awesome macro shot!

:)

Jenyphero said...

I took a picture of one of these the other day, also in southern California by the Ventura River. You're the only place I found online where I could easily identify it. Thank you so much for including the scientific name!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting this picture. We live in Northern California and just found one of these on our garage door. It looks like it will be staying put until it becomes a moth as it has begun to form its chrysalis.

Anonymous said...

I was camping in Copper Harbor Michigan and there was one of these there. I was thinking it would be a butterfly, guess not

Unknown said...

they are not poisonous I have one and it would of killed me by now if it was poisonous and also it caccooning.