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Harris's Three Spot

Harrisimemna trisignata

Photo by Tom15
Published on Project Noah
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42.6112, -71.5745

Field Notes

Notes:

This caterpillar was feeding on leaves in a winterberry bush ( Ilex verticillata).
The second picture is the same caterpillar 2 days after the first picture was taken.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (12)
Tom15
Thanks ChiefRedEarth!
Tom15
staccyh that's what makes nature so wonderful, the mix of weirdness and beauty.
staccyh
Really cool and a bit gross all at once! Nice :)
Tom15
Sergio, you're right. I just read that they often have earlier shed head capsules adhering to thoracic setae. I photographed it again 2 days later and the head capsules were still attached to the hairs.
Sergio Monteiro
Tom, those parts hanging from the cat's hair look like pieces of its old skin. Also, it looks a bit "wet", like a freshly molted cat.
Tom15
Thanks Sergio and Leonardo. It wasn't molting, it arches back like that when it thinks there's danger around.
Leonardo Castro
Unbelievable!!!!! That's a lot of extravagance for me! :)
Sergio Monteiro
Wow!!! I need to find something like this one!!! I guess it was molting...?
Tom15
Martin, this one is an odd looking caterpillar, but being so ugly is what makes it attractive:-)
MartinL
This is UGLY! but the moth is pretty. Its often the other way around

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Caterpillars and larvae of the World
Mission
New England Arthropods
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 5, 2013

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