King of the Walnut Tree~ Walnut Sphinx Moth (Amorpha juglandis) Caterpillar
With their lovely turquoise color, Walnut Sphinx cats have always been a favorite of mine...and I usually spend hours each summer/fall lifting up the countless leaves of short, young walnut trees in hopes of finding one! This one, though, was just above me on a massive old walnut tree yesterday...thank goodness I just happened to glance up and spot it! The first one I've ever found on a mature tree!
The Walnut Sphinx caterpillar is unique in that it can produce an audible high-pitched squeak by expelling air from pairs of spiracles in its abdomen when threatened by a predator! Quite a unique defense system! Several videos on Youtube attest to this amazing behavior!
Chaney found this mature Walnut Sphinx Moth below on one of our hikes last year...
King of the Walnut Tree~ Walnut Sphinx Moth (Amorpha juglandis) Caterpillar
With their lovely turquoise color, Walnut Sphinx cats have always been a favorite of mine...and I usually spend hours each summer/fall lifting up the countless leaves of short, young walnut trees in hopes of finding one! This one, though, was just above me on a massive old walnut tree yesterday...thank goodness I just happened to glance up and spot it! The first one I've ever found on a mature tree!
The Walnut Sphinx caterpillar is unique in that it can produce an audible high-pitched squeak by expelling air from pairs of spiracles in its abdomen when threatened by a predator! Quite a unique defense system! Several videos on Youtube attest to this amazing behavior!
Chaney found this mature Walnut Sphinx Moth below on one of our hikes last year...