That is not the official name for this fascinating caterpillar. In my internet research, I found a similar North American caterpillar called Io moth caterpillar (Lepidoptera) on redbud (Cercis). According to the websites and our neighbor, Roy, this species of #caterpillar have a toxic sting. It was trudging across our driveway when I pointed it out to M. Usually, he is Zen about insects, "Live and Let Live." I have my insect catch and release kit that consists of a glass jar and a 5"x4" 50th birthday card. (I kept the birthday card because it has a cool photo of me with my art piece, "Fleur Lumiere" at Burning Man taken by Robin.) Add some flashing LED lights to this critter and it would be ready to dance the night away at #BurningMan.
I was surprised when M said that I should kill the caterpillar. He was really concerned about it being poisonous and didn't want it to be crawling around the house. I had an unfortunate encounter with a scorpion the other day. Its sting lasted about 6 hours. M may have been a little vengeful because some other caterpillar munched all over his young papaya plant and killed it.
I Love the "entomological Festival" !!!!! Or its a jungle ...huggg.
Caterpillars are a theme lately. I looked into the sink stainer this morning and what I thought was a brown piece of leftover potato was actually a caterpillar! In the kitchen sink on the 2nd floor! It was quickly transported into the universe. It is an entomological festival around here.
Hey, organic Cyberlocks!..just need the detox kit in case the "cat" gets mad! Sometimes terminating a critter that is potentially eating Your food and that could add more drama than you really want, is a really ok idea.