Question mark caterpillar

Description:

This caterpillar is in it's last instar about to shed into a chrysalis. The caterpillar has black skin with red, orange, and black non-venomous spines. This defense is called Aposematism, that is where an animal try's to mimic a venomous species to stay away from other animals that want to eat it.

Habitat:

Semi-urban, Fort Worth, Texas. These caterpillars are actually bred from egg. After they hatch as butterflies I will be releasing them. I am breeding them so they don't get eaten by parasitic wasps.

Notes:

This caterpillars is almost pre-pupal, about 3 inches in length. This butterfly species feeds on Hackberry, (celtis) in this area.