big black furry found him under my Spanish Flag vine? What winged creature does he turn into ? under all that black fur is a reddish skin and he actually seemed like he was trying to bite the stick I was trying to hold him still with.
what the heck is this guy ?
another pic
Maybe a Mourning Cloak? Look under BugFiles I have some pictures there of one I raised. Below is a list of host plants....any around close?
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa): Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica), Sandbar Willow (Salix exigua), Black Willow (Salix nigra), White Poplar (Populus alba), Cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Black Poplar (Populus nigra), Alder (Alnus serrulata), Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana), various Maple (Acer spp.), Sugar Hackberry (Celtis laevigata var. reticulata), Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), American Elm (Ulmus americana), Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila), Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra), Hops (Humulus lupulus), Red Mulberry (Morus rubra), White Ash (Fraxinus americana), Common Pear (Pyrus communis), Carolina Basswood (Tilia americana), Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella).
Wow, that sure looks like it !! He (it) is on a East Palatka Holly Ilex X altenuata
I didn't know a Mourning Cloak was found in Florida.
Ummm, might have to go get the cat cage ....it was still there this morning hiding under the Spanish Flag vine that is growing up that tree.
Shoot, I just went back out there and couldn't find him...maybe he'll be there later or in the morning again. At least now I know what to look for.
It looks like a giant leopard moth caterpillar to me - it makes a beautiful moth.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/493
Sherry
Ok..when I compare the leopard moth caterpillar to the Mourning Cloak, it looks like the leopard moth. The Mourning Cloak has spines, the leopard doesn't. They are very very similar tho !
Yes, Sherry and mjs... I bet it is the moth too.