These well armed caterpillars are quite numerous right now in the CIDI Gardening and Landscaping Training Centre. They are about 3 inches (8 cm) long and about half an inch (1.1 cm) thick. Can anyone tell us what they are and what butterfly/moth they eventually become? Ugandans are very afraid of these creepy-crawlys - they apparently have a painful sting.
Can you tell us what specific plants they are eating? or do they appear to eat all types of vegetation. I am not familiar with this caterpillar but i could discover more if i knew what plant or plants they are eating.
Maybe someone else on the forum will recognize them and offer some info.
is this it??? African Emperor Moth Caterpillar
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2009/02/20/african-emperor-caterpillars-from-south-africa/
The last photo made me think of the dragons seen in Chinese New Year's parades.
