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Thursday, August 4, 2011

Cecro...what?

So the other night, Bob was outside mowing the lawn, when he came in and said - "Grab your camera and come outside!"
Hmmm - now I was wondering what I was going to see.
Imagine my surprise when he brought me over to our Flowering Dogwood Bush and I saw this:

It was the biggest caterpillar I have ever seen!


Here he is from the side. Look at those colors! The blue was almost neon.


This shows how big he is in comparison to Bob's hand.

We were left wondering what kind of caterpillar this was. After looking on the internet, we decided it was a Cecropia Caterpillar. It's North America's largest Moth with a wingspan that has been measured at 6 1/2 inches! We'll have to see if we see any huge moths flying around here next summer!

32 comments:

Sadie said...

SOOOOO cool! Glad you were able to get some pics!

Pat said...

That looks like something Bear Grylls on Man VS Wild would eat!
It would feed him for a week!

Sweet Tea said...

Beautiful colors, but he looks like something from a horror movie. I bet he eats a lot too...The photos are great!

Jean said...

Ewwwww. Sorry - caterpillars give me the creeps!

Karin said...

I'd be very fascinated seeing this one up close and personal! He's (or she's) decorated so symmetrically! Totally cool! Would be fun to watch him build his cocoon and then emerge! Great capture!!

Karen said...

How beautiful he is! But a moth that big would scare the bejeebers out of me:(

Sue O said...

One of the coolest photos you have ever posted. I want one of those!

A Stone Gatherer said...

I am creeped out and oddly in awe of God for this creature!!!

Hootin Anni said...

Okay, I'm gonna say it....HOLY CRAP THAT'S BIG!!! I can see why your dear man came in to get you and the camera. Geez....kinda gives me the willies too.

Happy Friday to you.

RAIN SCENTS

Connie said...

Your picture is great! I just finished reading about this creature and it is amazing how this works. And still people say "there is no God".

Shelly said...

oh my word! That is so cool! All those colors on it and wow! that will be a big Moth!

Penny said...

Oh my goodness!!! That is an interesting creature, lol!!

sara said...

That is so cool....especially since it is on YOUR side of the screen!!! Maybe you should keep it and watch it transform?

Terri said...

He is kind of pretty - in a weird sort of way. Isn't God's creation amazing

Nancy said...

I grew up in the country and I have never seen one so big....and his colors are beautiful....I wonder if they really grow this big or if this one was an exception.....

You never know what you're going to find in nature.....

Brooke said...

it almost looks fake. like the cartoon chubby kind you see in movies.

Sharon said...

OMG that is one big caterpillar.
The photo was great. It seems like we have had a strange year for weather and bugs.
Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend.

Just Mom said...

Eeeeeewwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I would have taken a photo of it too. ;-)

Betty W said...

He looks really disgusting. And fat. I bet he loves your yard. :)

Ms. Bake-it said...

What a cool looking caterpillar! The information you found is quite fascinating! I looked up the moth and it is very pretty.

Thank you for sharing!

~ Tracy

Jenny said...

Good grief Mari, that sucker is huge! The green Michelin Man of the soon-to-be-moth world. Wonderful pictures! I hope I don't have nightmares ...

Susan said...

WOW Mari that is awesome. So glad Bob got you and you got such great pictures (as always!!!) and shared with us.

septembermom said...

My kids said Whoaaaa!! That is some caterpillar!

Raise Them Up said...

Hey!! I think that is the caterpillar that turns into the moth I posted about a few weeks ago! How cool to see one! The Robin moth. :)

Laura said...

Yikes! He's huge! But he sure is a lot cooler looking than those disgusting tomato worms we had last year. I wonder what those red things on his head are? Just horns for defense? Or are they eyeballs of some kind... Pretty cool, but you can keep them over by you. :)

Christina said...

I have never seen anything like this.

Rebecca said...

You're right about those colors! They are almost neon. Some of the prettiest I have ever seen on an otherwise rather ugly creature...

Lynn said...

WOW! That is jaw dropping! AMAZING!

Kayren said...

Very cool! That first picture looks like part of a flower with ladybugs on top of it.

Cindy said...

that guy's pretty cool! he almost looks like he belongs in a cartoon!

Justabeachkat said...

Yowser! That is the BIGGEST caterpillar I have ever seen. Cute though, if caterpillars can be called cute. LOL

Hugs,
Kat

Kim said...

That is SO cool! God's creation is truly amazing, and just when we think we've seen it all, He brings along something that astounds :)