Camouflaged Lappet Moth Caterpillar

Description:

This unbelievable moth larva was found wandering on the ground. I brought it home to a terrarium. It was very flat and the lateral hairs all terminate in feather-like frills (pictures 5 and 6) which effectively help camouflage the larva against rough bark. It's camouflage is astounding due to it's coloring, flatness, a net-like body texture and the type of bristles (see picture 3 and try to find it!). It was about 3.5 cm long. The 4th picture shows the underside of the larva. It is probably the larva of the Tolype Moth, Family Lasiocampidae (Lappet Moths).

Habitat:

Grounds of the Hotel Bosques del Sol, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, 2,200 meters.

Notes:

https://www.whatsthatbug.com/2015/07/04/... http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.ed... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolype_vel... See the pupa of this larva: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/497...