Io Moth larva
........... sometimes called the corn worm larva, they metamorphose into a beautiful moth . They feed on a wide variety of plants including roses and corn (hence the name). In this photo it was feeding on a black birch sapling.
If I were still teaching this photo would have been a perfect example of camouflage . The horizontal red and white stripe on the caterpillar mimics the color of the twig even down to the reflected light on the bark. And the shade of green is a perfect match for the foliage.
The spines on the caterpillar are somewhat irritating and can leave a nasty red welt. I have had the unfortunate occasion of grabbing one when I was picking sweetcorn ----Not pleasant--- but the moths are gorgeous.
Here is a link to a photo and info on the adult moth for those who are interested.
mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/io-moth
Io Moth larva
........... sometimes called the corn worm larva, they metamorphose into a beautiful moth . They feed on a wide variety of plants including roses and corn (hence the name). In this photo it was feeding on a black birch sapling.
If I were still teaching this photo would have been a perfect example of camouflage . The horizontal red and white stripe on the caterpillar mimics the color of the twig even down to the reflected light on the bark. And the shade of green is a perfect match for the foliage.
The spines on the caterpillar are somewhat irritating and can leave a nasty red welt. I have had the unfortunate occasion of grabbing one when I was picking sweetcorn ----Not pleasant--- but the moths are gorgeous.
Here is a link to a photo and info on the adult moth for those who are interested.
mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/io-moth