Faux "eyes" of a Pale Swallowtail caterpillar
Here are the faux "eyes" on the back of a caterpillar of a Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) butterfly that is stretched out on a new leaf of California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica, Rhamnaceae) in the woods today. Hah, Julie says it reminds her of Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent, and the eyes do look like they're drawn on. The caterpillar's real head is pressed down against the leaf - it is always in this pose when I find it, and I've never actually seen its face. It's not huge like the caterpillar in this photo, maybe the size of a child's thumb. I have another recent photo of the same caterpillar here. (San Marcos Pass, 5 August 2020)
There were no marine-layer clouds coming over the mountains today, but I kept looking up expecting to see the fog coming because it felt like the usual fog winds from the south. It was pleasantly cool today, up to about 80 degrees. Maybe the marine layer will return over the mountains tonight.
Faux "eyes" of a Pale Swallowtail caterpillar
Here are the faux "eyes" on the back of a caterpillar of a Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) butterfly that is stretched out on a new leaf of California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica, Rhamnaceae) in the woods today. Hah, Julie says it reminds her of Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent, and the eyes do look like they're drawn on. The caterpillar's real head is pressed down against the leaf - it is always in this pose when I find it, and I've never actually seen its face. It's not huge like the caterpillar in this photo, maybe the size of a child's thumb. I have another recent photo of the same caterpillar here. (San Marcos Pass, 5 August 2020)
There were no marine-layer clouds coming over the mountains today, but I kept looking up expecting to see the fog coming because it felt like the usual fog winds from the south. It was pleasantly cool today, up to about 80 degrees. Maybe the marine layer will return over the mountains tonight.