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Thursday 31 May 2012

A Scary Caterpillar

Being at the bottom of the food chain is not easy for caterpillars. They have to use all kinds of tricks to avoid becoming a bird’s snack.  This caterpillar displays large eyespots in order to deter its predators. 




At first, I thought the eyespots were on its head.




A closer look reveals that its head is actually very small and the two big eyespots are on its back. 





I can understand why this strategy works because no matter which angle you look at the caterpillar, its two big eyes are staring right into your eyes.  Very scary indeed! 










Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to identify the caterpillar. Any suggestions are appreciated.



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19 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow, that's incredible. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Kirsti said...

OI, pelottava toukka. Onkohan tämä perhosen toukka?

Eko said...

Jo on mainio Kuva-Sarja.
'Ötökkä' on minulle täysin uusi tuttavuus.
Taitaa olla jonkinlainen 'Jalostettu-Lehtimato'.
Kaunis se on ja hienosti olet sen kuvannut.
Olet mennyt tarpeeksi lähelle...!
Tervehtien Eko

Giga said...

To niesamowite, to wygląda faktycznie jak wielkie oczy. Natura jest jednak niesamowita. Wspaniałe zdjęcia tego "potwora". *** Dziękuję, że jesteś moim stałym gościem. Pozdrawiam.
It's amazing, it actually looks like big eyes. But Nature is amazing. Great shots of this "monster". *** Thank you, that you are my constant guest. Yours.

Bob Bushell said...

What a brilliant caterpillar, well done.

Pablo R.Albalá said...

Es impresionante. Saludos

john said...

That caterpillar may be scary, but it is also strikingly beautiful. I once saw a large caterpillar in Mexico that was similar, but less colorful. While trying to photograph it I inadvertantly touched it. It immediately raised it's front end, and two bright red horns emerged from it's eye spots. Very startling.

ireminisces said...

Wow I thought it was a snake..

Carole M. said...

amazing caterpillar!

Debbie said...

beautiful close ups!! i can't help on the i.d.....

wildaboutwales said...

Its one of the elephant hawk-moths. cannot say which one as its not in my rspb book ( only british species)
but great captures,http://wildaboutwales.us/wp

Millhouse Photography said...

That is a magnificent caterpillar! very nicely done, and without sounding cheesy: thanks for posting it.

Magia da Inês said...

¸.•°`♥✿⊱╮
❤♡
Olá, amigo!
Parabéns pela linda série de fotos.
No princípio pensei que fosse a cabeça de um pássaro exótico.
Bom fim de semana!
Beijinhos.
Brasil.
°º °♫♫♪¸.•°`

Martin Blow (martin.blow@rocketmail.com) said...

What a superb caterpillar! Nice shots.

Dominic Gendron said...

So cool...thanks for sharing ;) This caterpillar is very intriguing ;)

Julie G. said...

This is a fabulous post! Nature truly is amazing. Very cool looking caterpillar. Your photographs are fantastic!

- Yvonaut -
Das sind Raphael und Yvonne
said...

Great pictures!
Very interesting animal!
Have a nice week!
Yvonne & Raphael

Giancarlo said...

Stupende fotografie! buona serata...ciao

Andrew said...

Eupanacra mydon caterpillar / larva. A hawkmoth. :-)