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Daphnis nerii
What look like eyes are not eyes at all. They are skin patterns called ‘false eyes’ - adapted by these caterpillars as a defense against predators.
Urban garden on adenium (calachuchi) plant.
Caterpillars have six pairs of simple eyes (ocelli). Ocelli (also called stemmata) are small, simple eyes that can detect changes in light intensity, but cannot form an image. Ocelli are composed of photoreceptors (light-sensitive cells) and pigments. Ocelli are usually located in two clusters of six eyes on the sides of a larva's head. *** Oleander Hawk Moth caterpillar turn to brown just before pupating.
45 Comments (1–25)
A beautiful caterpillar....
awesome!
Thank you Jemma!
lovely!!
wow!
Thank you JenniferRichardson!
Beautiful! Great photo!
Thanks so much Jakubko!
What a spectacular and daunting spotting of the day! Belated congratulations, Leana!
Thank you Adi! :)
Congos Leanna :) Very awesome :)
Thanks ceejayalyssa!
Thanks to you too Braulio!
Haha!
I thought it was an angry Snake!
Great series and congrats!
congratulations! well-deserved SOTD :) this is an excellent shot :)
Thanks everyone for your appreciation, congratulatory messages, faves and kind remarks. Getting an SOTD is awesome and this particular one is totally unexpected! :)
wow i saw that and i was like who posted iron man on a nature website?! he's cute. amazing caterpillar congrats!
Very nice series!
Congrats!
Congrats !
Congratulations Leana
Congratulations, is indeed a very unusual caterpillar :-)
Congratulations Leana on your SOTD. Lovely series :)
Congratulations Leana!
Iron Man indeed. Congratulations Leana!
Congrats Leana! :)