By Lu
I'm the vulture of nature photographers. I seem to get my best shots of nature that is dead, injured, displaced or in distress. This is some sort of sphinx moth caterpillar, I'm pretty sure. Most sphinx moth caterpillars have a spike at their tail end, making the family easy to identify. This one was on the pedestrian trail at Walsingham Park, looking very miserable to be exposed. He appeared to have a minor injury near his eyespots.
 |
| A sphinx moth caterpillar at Walsingham Park. |
Someone just mentioned hummingbird moths, and I said I wasn't sure if they had them in Florida. Well, this guy is in the same family as hummingbird and hawk moths. He might even be one. I'll try to narrow down his exact species. Doesn't he look like an elephant seal here?
 |
| The front end of a sphinx moth caterpillar. (But those aren't his eyes.) |
I moved him off the path and he toddled away. I think he'll be okay.
 |
| Safe off the path and in the woods. |
I love all the photos you share. Wonderful close-ups, too. Being a "vulture of nature photograhers" is working for you just fine so far.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very cool caterpillar. Now I have to go find out what he's going to look like all grown up!
ReplyDeleteWow he does look cool! I agree with Lily, I've got to go see what he looks like all grown up!
ReplyDelete