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Hylesia continua Family Saturniidae
Very spiny, with multiple branched black and yellow spines. It had 2 very long tufted spines in front of the head capsule. The head had a broad white band and two thin white lines ran the length of the body on the upper surface. It was about 5 cm long.
In the dusty gravel inside the mouth of the cave from which a river emerges. It was obviously very unhappy and we removed it to the bushes outside of the cave. Can't imagine how it got that far inside the cave. Tropical forest, dry season, of the Chorreadero Park, 10 km above Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico.
To see the adult of this moth see: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?searc.... This moth is very common and I've seen it many times even in San Cristobal de Las Casas at 2,200 meters. This is the first time I've seen the larva.
Thank you Juan for the identification of this larva. I had no idea it was the larva of a moth I have seen so many times. This is the first time I have gotten to see this larva. Very neat.
Spotted on Nov 21, 2012
Submitted on Nov 25, 2012
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