Skip to main content

Wildlife Spotting

Photo by Tom15
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

4.84171, -58.6417

Field Notes

Description:

Aquatic caterpillar

Habitat:

This caterpillar was swimming under the water in a pool of water 10 yards across and only a few inches deep.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (30)
Tom15
Thanks Mark. I was taking pictures of birds and had to shoot this with my telephoto lens and this was the only picture that came out close to being in focus. Now I wish I'd gotten better pics.
Mark Ridgway
Wow!! How did I miss this one. Truly fascinating.
Tom15
Lauren, the water was very shallow and I can't say for sure its touching the surface, but that it might have been.
LaurenZarate
Really Tom? The tail end was touching the surface? Can't tell from the picture. That would explain a lot! And it definitely should be studied! Maybe your should share this with a Lepidopterist that might like to go to Guyana and have a look….
Tom15
Good luck Sergio, I hope you find one!
Sergio Monteiro
A aquatic caterpillar? I LOVED IT !!! I have to find one !!!
Tom15
Lauren that's interesting about the aquatic caterpillars from Hawaii. You might be right with the trapped air by the spiracles. Another thing that could be happening is its tail end is elevated and may be at the surface of the water. I wonder if it has a breathing tube like a waterscorpion (Nepidae).
LaurenZarate
Have you seen this 2010 finding for amphibious moth larvae in Hawaii? They can spend weeks or months under water and seem to absorb oxygen through the skin (and form silk cases and tethers). Yours looks much bigger and more like an Arctiid larva. Maybe it just stays under a few hours (or less?) by holding trapped air close to the spiracles. With all its pseudopods, it probably can hold on and walk about without ballast. It sure does need more study. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphibious_caterpillar http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/23/science/la-sci-caterpillar23-2010mar23
Tom15
Doreen, there were 2 caterpillars in this pool of water and they were calmly walking around the bottom, looking like that was their natural environment. I observed them for 10 minutes and they could have easily crawled out of the water, but didn't.
Tom15
Kaern, this aquatic caterpillar was something I've never seen before, and hope someone could shed a little more light on.
Tom15
Thanks Gilma, this looks like a tough one to ID, but folks here at PN have been amazing.
Gilma Jeannette Ospino Ferreira-Norman
Just went into "My favorites" sorry you wonderful spotting does not have an ID yet... It so interesting. I am looking forward for a possible future ID from a PN member. Hope it happens in the near future.. : (
Tom15
There wasn't any real interaction between the caterpillar and the tadpoles, except for the caterpillar inadvertently almost bumping into them.
Tom15
Good question. The water wasn't very deep, and it probably doesn't have the ability to float.
LaurenZarate
What do they use for ballast to stay on the bottom or even get to the bottom?
Tom15
There were actually 2 of these caterpillars in the pool of water and they seemed to be walking around under the water going about their business.
LaurenZarate
Does it actually "swim" by wiggling or does it kind of walk on the bottom?
LaurenZarate
That is really neat! It must be able to hold air among all the hairs close to it's spiracles so it can stay under for a while.
Telse
Incredible. Who'd a thunk! Learn something new everyday. Are you sure it didn't fall in?
Tom15
Paracles laboulbeni is a good possibility. The caterpillar does look like one of the Arctiidae.
Scott Frazier
I wonder if it is one on the Paracles (Palustra in part) species (Arctiidae) which are associated with aquatic vegetation, and have aquatic caterpillars (e.g., Paracles laboulbeni http://www.inra.fr/papillon/arct_guy/boite_11/texte/p_laboul.htm for example )
Scott Frazier
Wow, another "learn something new everyday" spotting :-)
Tom15
I guess some can swim. I watched this one moving around under the water for 10 minutes.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Caterpillars and larvae of the World
Photographed
PublishedJanuary 29, 2013

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies