This morning I was outside cleaning some bottom board inserts, and I heard my sister call up from the barn, "REAGAN?! WHAT IS THIS?!" I went down and found her looking down at the biggest caterpillar I have ever seen galloping across the ground. I set the bottom board insert I was carrying in front of him, he crawled onto it, and we took him in the house. (I never touch an unknown hairy caterpillar, since some species have urticating (vemon-producing) hairs. He was perfectly safe however. :smile:) It turned out to be an imperial moth caterpillar. We have seen imperial moths before, both as adults and caterpillars, but never one in it's final instar.
Are you going to keep it until it changes?
Quote from: Kathyp on September 24, 2023, 08:35:14 PM
Are you going to keep it until it changes?
No, it's a soil pupating moth, so it wouldn't be much fun to watch anyway. We do have a spicebush swallowtail pupating in our garden right now though. I can't seem to find the pictures I took of it. :embarassed:
Of course, right when I gave up I found it. :cheesy: Although I was just informed that it's not there anymore, so something must have eaten it. :sad:
They have returned! :cool:
Ewwwwww, you touched it. :cheesy:
:l