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Project Noah Nature School
Oak and Pine mix forest
We had never seen one just like this one. The sting from the thorns is very painfull and last for a couple of hours
I think that these white spots would be quite important. If they are missing and not just fainted it might be another species. But I am not sure.
At first sight I fully agree with Metzli. Than I noticed the missing white spots in your shot and I am confused about Metzli. I am wondering what other people would say to this beautiful caterpillar.
Wowza... this caterpillar's venomous spines clearly mean business! I am confident this caterpillar is in the subfamily Hemileucinae, genus Automeris, which is full of stinging caterpillars. The body coloration and spines, along with your location, make me pretty sure this is A. metzli, but moth caterpillars especially are notoriously variable, so if anyone else has a better ID, I'm all ears!
Spotted on Dec 18, 2011
Submitted on Jan 13, 2012
