Io moth caterpillar

Description:

Smaller than what I imagined one of these would be... perhaps 1.25" long? Spotted by the Florida Master Naturalist that (thankfully) has joined my class to help me out. This is definitely one of those "Thou Shalt Not Touch" caterpillars; they can give a very nasty sting with those spines.

Habitat:

This individual was along the handrailings of the boardwalk descending into the Lake Eaton Sinkhole.... 88 feet down. Sinkhole was in a Sand Pine Scrub/ Oak Scrub, but the microclimate in the sinkhole itself was much more humid, and (thankfully) significantly cooler. Tree species changed drastically as one goes down... and down..... and down.... lol.