What is it!?

JTHphoto · Sep 6, 2005

at least that's what I said when i first saw it. I've never seen anything like this before. It was about 3-4 inches long. I had to look it up on the internet, and apparently it is a caterpillar, the larvae of a cecropia moth - Hyalophora Cecropia. I think he's a little lost out here in Arizona...

I had a hard time with the DOF, I was trying to use a +3 close up filter a couple of inches from it, i think i may have been better off without it, and just cropping...

1)

2) This is a cropped shot to get a close up of it's head/face area...

3)

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Calliope · Sep 6, 2005

I've seen those things before but never really knew what it was. Great captures!

Chiller · Sep 6, 2005

That thing is real? Holy cow.. cool shots.

240shorty · Sep 6, 2005

Are the multi-colored nubs supposed to be functional? A disquise or defense mechanism? Nifty looking creatures.

NeoDude · Sep 6, 2005

Jeez. I thought everybody knew what a caterpillar was.

Corry · Sep 6, 2005

NeoDude said:
Jeez. I thought everybody knew what a caterpillar was.

In my area, we've only got the hairy ones, as far as I know. I've never seen one like that, either.

Raymond J Barlow · Sep 6, 2005

very awesome shots, just excellent!

JTHphoto · Sep 6, 2005

Chiller said:
That thing is real? Holy cow.. cool shots.

yep, it's real - definitely an odd little critter, I may not have believed it myself if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. :shock:

240shorty said:
Are the multi-colored nubs supposed to be functional? A disquise or defense mechanism? Nifty looking creatures.

From what I read they are suppose to look like stingers to keep the predators away but are completely harmless.

NeoDude said:
Jeez. I thought everybody knew what a caterpillar was.

I figured it for a moth caterpillar, but never seen one even close to this size, or shape with all the spikes... (i guess i'm just easily amused...) :mrgreen: