Does anyone know what this might be? It was crawling along in the grass of my yard. I have never seen ANYTHING like it in my life--I wasn't sure if I should scream & run for the hills, or call National Geographic to report the most amazing life form remaining on earth. Help!
Here's a second picture of scary creature.
That is one scarey looking many jointed worm - did you see where he went? I'd love to know what he is/is going to be.
Fun seeing him head on like that.
Great closeup too, what is he, about two inches long?
I must say that is the creepiest looking thing I've ever seen. I'd have pobably run screaming into the house. lol
I could not find a perfect match for your caterpillar (yes that's all it is), but a number of moths (notably the sphinx/hawk moths aka hummingbird moths) and the spicebush swallowtail butterfly have larvae that at one stage or other have false eyes...
Quite a few sites pronounce that "some caterpillars have large false eyes towards the rear of their abdomen..." it appears they are all quoting the same (wrong) source, but I found one or more that specifically say "the rear of this cat has false eyes"... when they are in fact showing the front of the caterpillar although the "eyes" are in fact false/mimicry. As seen here in a late-stage spicebush swallowtail cat:
http://www.all-creatures.org/pica/glf-caterpillar-spbushst-02.html
The duller area to the right side of pic is in fact its head, with not-noticable eyes.
Here is a site with four pics all of the same sphinx-type moths' larvae at different stages, i.e. stages (called "instar"s) that one larva goes through before pupating:
http://www.birds-n-garden.com/tersa_sphinx_moth.html
The fact that one species can appear in several different colorations makes finding "yours" a matter of luck! I am thinking... maybe a local cooperative extension office would be more helpful.
~'spin!~
Crystal-
Thanks for all the info. After looking through it ( and others) i believe it must of been some type of swallowtail, although I never did find one with the same colors. We've seen several swallowtails in the yard this week, and now we smile to think of how they all begin--as an alien creature! :)
That is cool and creepy, at the same time! lol...
neat pics!
-seedpicker_TX
I guess I'm the odd woman out...I think he's awfully cute! :-)
-Julie
Kennedyh - where are you on this one!?!
Rikerbear, Floridian?
I think it is absolutely beautiful! People wait for opportunities to get a photograph like that! You did a good job!
Cute as a bug (pun intended) :-)
Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/swalotlfax.html
edited to add link with CAT pic
This message was edited Sep 21, 2004 10:59 AM
There you have it folks. Rikerbear to the rescue!
:-) Glad I could help..................
Yeah Rikerbear!
But.... that's what Crystalspin said way up at the top. Spicebush Swallowtail .. right. Love the link to all the cats.
Lordy knows, I sure haint no authority on the subject by any means .. but, rikerbear .. ya sure it haint maybe the catepillar of the Tiger Swallowtail? ...
Oh could be, they are very similar. And I certainly am no expert either............................
Found this for the Tiger Swallotail:
http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesRECNUM.asp?recNum=BU0637
And this for the Spicebush Swallowtail:
http://www.all-creatures.org/pica/glf-caterpillar-spbushst.html
Very similar just a different color, from the green Cat origonally shown here.....which is why I had posted the Spicebush Swallowtail cat since it is green. (in some pix that is)
I would say it is very safe to say it is indeed A swallowtail of some sort :-)
edited to correct spelling errors.................
This message was edited Sep 21, 2004 3:07 PM
Yep!!
hee hee .. but by gollies .. we'll all dang'd shore have a bit of fun tryin' to figger 'em out tho' .. LOL ..
(Besides, we got time to kill afore the 'xperts' c'mon board)... heehee
I'm certainly not even a novice, let alone an expert. But.....
The two links John gave us show that the Tiger has only 1 set of false eyes and a distinct collar. The Spicebush has what look like TWO sets of false eyes and no collar that I can see.
So despite the green/brown difference, I say that the cat that roseofkaren has looks more like the Tiger.
Just my very humble opinion.
-Julie
Did a google on "swallowtail instar color variation." Came up with 179 returns. Here is an example:
http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-abstract&issn=0014-3820&volume=056&issue=02&page=0342
Wow, Cool info, John! Thanks for that link. Yet again, I learned something new today because of the great people here on DG! :-)
-Julie
