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Doratifera vulnerans
The final version of the D.vulnerans caterpillar - white-grey body with sets of red-orange tufts and yellow stinging hairs at either end and a turquoise, yellow and black saddle mid-dorsal.
Wetlands reserve on small eucalyptus stems.
For the first time I have noticed the very fine hairs hanging down from the false legs shapes mid body - pic 3. What purpose? In pic 2 you can just see the tiny fine tips of the stinging spines. The yellow spines usually stay inside the orange bases but shoot out instantly if the caterpillar is disturbed. There seems very few of these around this year. This one was just about to turn itself into a cup. The twisted grey shades are an indicator that the changes are beginning. The next step in the pupation process is here http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/983... then the moth can be seen here http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/154...
73 Comments (1–25)
No holidays coming up here Sergio but that won't stop us. Thanks... one of my favourites. :)
Ready for the holydays! Absolutely beautiful, Mark. Congrats.
Thanks Christine. :)
Wow, that's beautiful! Great spotting!
Thanks Neil and ceejayalyssa
such a pretty creature!
What a wicked little dude, and not known for his sense of humour, I'll bet. A fabulous photo, Argy, and great spotting. Nice one :-)
Thanks Anne Marie and cullenb1.
That's a crazy caterpillar - great spotting!
BEST. PICTURE. EVER
Thanks Maria, Gerardo and Stephen.
So beautifully portrayed and photographed as well
Extraordinary Mark congratulations :)
Wonderful series, Mark, and congratulations on your SOTD!
Thanks all again for the wonderful comments. Sorry I can't find the 'like' buttons. :)
Fantastic Series (all of them) great work. Thank you for sharing the stages of this moth in Series. Congratulations on the SOTD!! Very well deserved, Argy Bee.
Wonderful!
Awesome spotting, congratulations Mark!
Praise the God!
Congrats Argy!
Such an impressive Caterpillar!
Wonderful images!
What a fantastic image!
Wonderful spotting ... Congratulations !!
very nice
What a find Argy...a well-deserved SOTD! Great photography too!