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Lophocampa mixta

Lophocampa mixta

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Field Notes

Description:

A stunning green and black hairy caterpillar we happened to find while hiking one of the Coronado mountains in southern Arizona. The guy will eventually become a moth (http://bugguide.net/node/view/434172/bgimage), and my next mission would be to find and photograph it!

Habitat:

Found in southeastern Arizona at varying high altitudes, from 5,000 feet to about 8,000.

Notes:

I have only seen this fuzzy friend, in this color, once, and that would be at about 7,500 - 8,000 feet in altitude through a trail that leads up Mt. Wrightson (little under 10,000 feet) through the Old Baldy Trail. It was around 6 cm in length. What a creature!

Reference Links:

Species Lophocampa mixta - Hodges#8212 - BugGuide.Net

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
Ivan Rodriguez
Update: Finally IDed thanks to the good folks over at Bug Guide. :)
Aaron_G
Not to worry, Ivan. :-) They have the typical six legs of an insect, and they also have what are known as "prolegs" at the posterior end. Those are lost during pupation.
Ivan Rodriguez
Through a heavy stroll in Google Images, it looks kind of like a Ctenucha virginica, but I don't think I saw red legs (?) on him. Experts on butterflies must be laughing right now as I don't even know what to call their multiple feet!
Ivan Rodriguez
Many thanks Bong, and I'm sure the caterpillar is flattered as well. :)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Moths of the World

Tags

Photographed
PublishedOctober 23, 2011

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