A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Cerura vinula
The caterpillars are about 80 mm. They are bright light green and have a blackish brown, outlined in white dorsal pattern. Young caterpillars are completely black. The abdomen ends in a tail fork with two long, dark-colored tips bearing red extendable flagellae. The moth survives the winter as a pupa in a very solid, wood reinforced cocoon, attached to a tree or pole.
The caterpillars have a remarkable defensive behavior. When disturbed, they strike a defensive pose raising the head with a reddish area and tails with extendable flagellae. They might squirt formic acid at the attacker if the defense warning is unheeded.
Esta mariposa nocturna alcanza los ocho centímetros de envergadura alar. El cuerpo y las patas son muy peludos.
Su oruga es más impresionante todavía. Alcanza los siete centímetros de longitud. Es verde, con una "silla de montar" pardo rojiza, y su último par de propodios (falsas patas) tienen la forma de cuernos carnosos y contienen cada uno un filamento que se evagina cuando se perturba a la oruga.
Campos sin cultivar.
Spotted on Jul 7, 2015
Submitted on Jul 7, 2015
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