It was a nice day for taking pictues today. Overcast sky and calm wind, a rariety here in zone 10. Since there's a hurricane coming, you might call it the calm before the storm. I just couldn't resist. At any rate. I always look very closely at my Blue Plumbago bush. I am usually looking for cats from Cassius Blue butterflies. They lay eggs on this bush most of the year. I have not found a cat on this bush until today.
I found a IO moth caterpillar on one of the Blue Plumbago bushs today. Very surprising since I usually only find these cats on my hibiscus bushes. I took several pictures but only two were taken without flash, which is what I prefer to get true colors. The best of the two is attached.
If you are not familar with these caterpillars, you should be. They posses spines that by just touching or slightly brushing against will produce a very serious stinging sensation for quite a while. I have been stung by bees and wasps that were not as strong as this cats poison is.
I recently saw an IO moth in the pool area one night a few weeks ago. It was the first I had seen all year. Of course how often do you sit around your yard at night looking for moths, well I do from time to time, especially at this time of the year when it's very plesant outdoors at night.
Art
