280 days of Urbpandemonium #188

[urbpan]

At first it looks like an extra large woolly bear, that never developed the reddish brown band. Or maybe it died it's brown setae black as a countercultural fashion statement.


But then when its picked up, it goes into a defensive curl, revealing bare bands of bright red cuticle. It's another warning, but intended for birds and other predators.


The giant leopard moth caterpillar Hypercompe scribonia can be handled safely by humans. Please don't squish it, as it will change into a lovely white moth with open black spots, and hidden blue and orange colors on its abdomen. The caterpillar has as broad a taste for plants as the woolly bear, and even includes tropical and subtropical plants like banana and orange. The moth occurs from Texas to Minnesota and everything east of that, including some of the Caribbean islands.

* Very shackled good writer (Scribonia is a Roman given name and an opera character--the name suggests the meaning of good writer: Scribo + bonus; the taxonomist was almost certainly referring to the black markings on the white moth, which resemble writing.)

Comments

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I was wearing the blue gloves for a separate, work-related reason. I'll bare-handle a giant leopard moth caterpillar any day! I agree that it makes for nice contrast tho. :)

[froganon.livejournal.com]

Bare-handling a blister beetle makes you one of the bravest folks that I've ever run into on the interwebz though!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Brave is one word for it!