What in the heck is this??

I was pulling weeds from behind my Heavenly Bamboo, found a plant I liked... and this was on the back... and I think it stung me...?!? had a little splinter/stinger in my finger- this was a week ago- it is STILL tender... my cactaii garden is 6 acres away from this area- so I know it wasn't that... (I am allergic)

I asked my oldest son what he thought it was- he's Mr. Science (In Jr. High) He just said, " a plain old caterpillar"

I may have hit my head at some point in my life- But I don't recall ever seeing a two sided caterpillar quite like this.

You have a Saddleback Cat. Sibine stimulea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddleback_caterpillar

As you have already learned, these are no-touch cats.

This message was edited Aug 15, 2012 9:33 PM

So I am NOT crazy... this thing DID sting me... My boys were going on and on about how I probably touched a cactus plant throughout the day at some point... SNAP!! It as SOO neat looking- And the picture you posted on Wikkepedia is amazing... If I DIDN'T know what it felt like to touch it, I would want some!! Never heard of a slug butterfly before..

**Slug Caterpillar** I'm beat.

The saddlebacks remind me of the classic images of Scottish terriers with jackets on...grin

Okay, that gave me an image of a Scottie with venomous spines. My brain...

It is a sci-fi world out there...LOL

And in here.

LOL...very true.

you're lucky that it wasn't worse. you could have grabbed a handful of this guy!
where there is one, there will be more. i learned to wear garden gloves.....sigh.

They are so cool! I have only found one. It was eating an amaryllis leaf.
Say hello to my leetle friend...
Actually, it may be goodbye- this could be the rear end.

This message was edited Aug 17, 2012 4:51 PM

it looks like a puppy!

That is why I think of Scottish terriers wearing jackets....LOL

i don't know...looks more like a Shar-Pei to me! LOL

Whatever breed it reminds ya of...ya gotta remember this one bites...grin

THAT i remember!

Okay...still have a sci-fi image of a spiny dog...

Still not sure which end is the front

The pointy end.

LOL...maybe the end facing the chewed leaf....but maybe not...grin

Noticed the discussion on which is head and which is tail.
Epecially interesting for this cat.
Attached are some details of one that was eating Poison Ivy leaves at Bluebonnet Swamp in Baton Rouge, La.
Shot on 6/20/2008.

John

Hi John. So the end that looks like a bumper pad is the business end? Not often that a creature's backside is "cuter" than it's front. grin

super photos!...but i still can't tell the difference and what is what.......sigh.

Second picture, right side, that is the head....sort of like a vacuum cleaner hose with teeth...

good lord! teeth you say???? lol

Well, opposable "toothed" mandibles....but teeth sounded better...grin