A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Doratifera vulnerans
A small but very ornate brown caterpillar with eight tufts of spines and a yellow saddle.
Solitary on a sapling swamp gum leaf.
This is the second instar larvae of a cup moth. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/866... http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/796...
Spotted on Feb 4, 2012
Submitted on Feb 4, 2012
7 Comments
Very nice, MArtin. Please don't go away, there is something I want to show you.
thanks Karen and Mayra and Karenl and C.Sydes for your comments
Yes, they're very similar to the saddleback but this one is a baby. Here is a later instar with weapons fully extended. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/915...
They do itch but I'd say only moderate pain.
This looks a lot like our Saddlebag caterpillars. They have stinging hairs that can pack a very painful wollop! Does this one? It looks very ouchie.
Incredible!
Wonderful!
beautiful