Anyone know the identity of this big cat? It's on the azalea growing in my neighbor's yard. She saw 4 of them yesterday, and I found two this morning, including this big guy who tried his terror tactic on me, looking ferocious! He has a very distinctive red head. Please help! I can't find any butterflies that use azalea as a host plant.
thea611, very interesting cat.! Have you tried I.D. question on the bug I.D.?
thea611, in case you didn't get an answer, your pic is of The red-headed azalea caterpillar (Datana major). They feed on azalea leavesin groups on azaleas in the Southeastern USA around this time of year.
Very interesting looking cat. Anyone have a photo of the butterfly it morphs into?
I have azaleas.....just wonderin'
You can see the moth here
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/tyk/2008/tyk09.html
Thank you for showing. Seems the more exotic the cat, the more drab the morph. On the other hand, think of the "orange dog' (looks like bird poop)that morphs into the beautiful giant swallowtail.
