CLOSED: Need ID on Hairy Black Cat

Palm Harbor, FL(Zone 9b)

I found this cat, about 2" long and covered in long black spines, on a lavender plant on my screened in patio here in the Tampa Bay area of west/central Florida. It has deep orange/red stripes around its body. Before I throw it outside to fend for itself I thought I should try to see if it would be desirable to put in a butterfly cage to try to let it hatch in here. I would also like to know what else it might eat other than my one and only lavender, which it is chomping through fairly quickly. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Thumbnail by Florida9 Thumbnail by Florida9
Palm Harbor, FL(Zone 9b)

I believe I just found the answer via a web search. It is apparently the cat of a Giant (or Great) Leopard Moth, a white moth with black circles on it. It appears to eat a variety of plants so I will try to move it to something other than the lavender. Thanks to all here.

Dan

Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a)

Do be careful...Leopard moths cats do have "venom" in all those little spines and the sting is very unpleasant.

http://www.hiltonpond.org/thisweek020608.html

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