Sunday, December 4, 2011

The Funky Caterpillar

On my journey this summer to Panama, and on the way to the outdoor bathroom, I discovered this caterpillar by accident.  It's known as the Tetrio Sphinx Caterpillar.  You'd think this large bug would stand out on the branches, but instead, it blended in quite effortlessly with its surroundings.
It belongs to the moth family and when in moth form, looks similiar to our own local desert Sphinx moth that comes from the hornworm caterpillar....you know....the giant green alien looking one:)  Here is a post titled  Who's in My Garden? from last year that features a similiar type of caterpillar moth.  It feeds on the Plumeria species.  While the moth form is beautiful, the caterpillar has the color.  Here is an observation while working with both moths and butterflies from over the years.  Many moth caterpillars are colorful while their butterfly counterparts are not.....and yet when they switch into moth or butterfly form, the roles reverse with the butterfly having more color. There are exceptions of course.   Have you seen this caterpillar in your garden? I think I've also used the word "caterpillar" enough in this write:)
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia


5 comments:

  1. I love the color of that CATERPILLAR, but it really is so long and therefore a bit scary. I noticed you wrote catepillar many times without r! Hehe, do you also call it lavae. Lol, joke!

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  2. I was reading that last night as I usually do before I post....or I read it again in the morning just to make sure there aren't any typos. And I kept telling myself...isn't it "caterpillar"? But I was exhausted and went to bed:)

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  3. What a beautiful creature. I was wondering where you found it and now it makes sense...it's got quite a tropical look.
    I think my garden blog friend on the island of Barbados has them in her garden. She says they will clean the leaves off a plant in no time.
    Cool post! David/ :-)

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  4. The "Tetrio Sphinx Caterpillar" is gorgeous!

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