This large caterpillar is a little bit more colorful than the usual tussock cat. that I'm accustomed to see, could you help I.D. it?
Also, it was found on a clematis vine, no evidence that it has chewed on the vine (yet?). There is also a rose in which the clematis was climbing on. Surrounding area we've oaks, wisterias redbud, and other deciduous trees.
I was concerned of my clematis and this unknown cat. So I moved it to a wisterias so it can eat all its heart contents. There nearby, I found another smaller instar, this one is much smaller, but just as colorful. The striking color is one of a brilliant blue:
Yet, on the handrail close by, I found this half eaten cat. lying there. Apparent birds didn't find these cats. pallatable?
army worm. I haven't seen any yet this year
Pretty sure it's a tent caterpillar, Malacosoma americana:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/319/
http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1512056
oops you are right. Don't know why I put Army lol
Maybe they use Army tents...
ROFL!!!!!!!!!
Wow, thank you, Donna & Claypa. I didn't know anything about tussock moth, what I had in mind was those 'tents' some built. Now I know better, thank you for helping me out.
Lily... kill that tent cat quick. They destroyed everything in site two years ago in FW. People went crazy though and over sprayed. We had very few butterflies that year. One of their favorite was the Mulberry trees here. Best thing to do is tear open the tents in the tree and let the birds get them from what the officials said here. But that didn't seem to work when we tried it. I just started squishing what fell out of the trees and were crawling up the side of the house. Hope you don't have a infestation like they did around here.
We didn't really get but a few that I've seen. Hopefully it isn't a big problem here. Thanks for the head up Sheila.
