Lappet Moth Caterpillar

Description:

Steel grey, ash, orange and a touch of black...quite colourful but extremely bristly. Wouldn't touch it...

Habitat:

Chilapata Forest is near Jaldapara National Park in Dooars, Alipurduar district, West Bengal, India. I spotted this caterpillar in the gardens of Chilapata Jungle Camp a tourist resort of sorts located right where the Chilapata forest ends. It was on a mushroom shaped concrete garden ornament and going around it circles. When it extended its body and sensed that it would fall (second shot) it retracted to rest solidly on the surface.

Notes:

Lappet Moth, Kunugia sp...identified by John Horstman.