stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Sept 5, 2007 9:50:30 GMT -5
Found this guy near my fire ring this weekend- took a few shots of him before putting him in the woods (out of harms way) Any ideas what he is- or what he will become??    OH he was about 2 1/2 inches long |
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Post by Tweetiepy on Sept 5, 2007 9:59:12 GMT -5
He looks like a green caterpillar  I found something saying that those "eyes" are actually it's back size (used to fool his predators) No clue as to what it is - do all caterpillars turn into butterflies or moths? |
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Sept 5, 2007 10:04:55 GMT -5
Well the "eyes" are diffenitly not real- but he was crawling "eye" end first (or maybe he was backing up?)
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onewomanarmy
has rocks in the head
Carpe Silicis!
Member since January 2007
Posts: 645
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Post by onewomanarmy on Sept 5, 2007 10:15:02 GMT -5
I'm not 100% sure Stefan but I think that might be a Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar - when they turn yellow (from green) they are ready to pupate. Actually - not totally sure about that - seems like the spicebush caterpillar has more stripes on it than yours does...? Maybe another Swallotail variety though - www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/insects/cateast/papiglau.htm |
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 5, 2007 10:44:26 GMT -5
wow, onewomanarmy does it again! we will have to ask Mark to make you the RTH Fact Finder Extraordinaire!
cool bug, Stefan!
KD
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Post by akansan on Sept 5, 2007 11:02:40 GMT -5
Oooo - does the swallowtail become something else as well?
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Post by Lady B on Sept 5, 2007 11:56:55 GMT -5
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onewomanarmy
has rocks in the head
Carpe Silicis!
Member since January 2007
Posts: 645
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Post by onewomanarmy on Sept 5, 2007 11:59:06 GMT -5
Thanks for the vote of confidence KD! I love learning - and am insatiably curious (not always a good thing!) - so it doesn't take much to get me going!  akansan - here's some pictures of what (I think) this caterpillar should end up looking like : www.genehanson.com/butterfly6.htmI'm thinking it's one of the ones in the top two rows (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail) - but there is also a Spicebush Swallowtail further down - I'm guessing it's one of the two. I've always loved the tiger swallowtails since I was little - it was one of the first "bugs" I learned to identify (right behind lightning bugs and stinkbugs!) because of the striking marks. You must have posted when I was posting LadyB! Sorry - you've already put up some links! Great minds...? |
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huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2007
Posts: 1,222
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Post by huffstuff on Sept 5, 2007 12:49:09 GMT -5
Wow! Neat. Take a look at the snail we saw on our driveway this summer....  For reference, the smoothed edge of the driveway he's gliding across is 4". He's the biggest snail I've ever seen around here. Thanks for sharing, Stefan |
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Post by takilasunrise on Sept 5, 2007 15:13:11 GMT -5
I swear, it looks like someone painted those "eyes" on him! That is wild!
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Post by ladyt on Sept 5, 2007 15:21:50 GMT -5
HAHA At first I thought it was a toy and that Stefan was pulling one over on us. LOL Kinda looks like Huffstuff's avatar. Cool bug. Tonja |
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Post by Cher on Sept 5, 2007 15:27:26 GMT -5
Nice shots Stefan, very cool caterpillar. I think I'd have to agree on it being the Easter Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar and the end with the eyes is the front end.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Sept 6, 2007 10:40:12 GMT -5
Dang shoulda had a contest!!! THanks all- and YES indeed it is real!
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,490
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 6, 2007 14:46:17 GMT -5
Ok, definitely a swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. Looks a lot like both the Orange Dog and our Western Swallowtail so it could sure be the Eastern Swallowtail. If they're like ours, if you touch them sometimes these scent horns pop out behind the head too. great pics of a neat insect!....Mel
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one80mike
freely admits to licking rocks
@(-_-)@ Princess Leia!
Member since February 2007
Posts: 908
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Post by one80mike on Sept 6, 2007 19:30:10 GMT -5
Either it's some sort of muppet...or...they have finally landed and are getting ready to take over the planet.
Those eyes make me expect it to suddenly start speaking.
Cool. Kinda weird and creepy but still very cool.
Mike
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Post by hermatite on Sept 7, 2007 14:30:53 GMT -5
I'm with LadyT...I thought stefan was playing a joke on us too.
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