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Sulphur Caterpillar, I Think



While I was out hunting for Butterfly Caterpillars I came across this thing.  It was on our Cassia tree.  This is the plant that the Sulphur Butterflies host on.

Normally we just have Cloudless Sulphur Butterflies laying eggs on this plant, and rarely do the Caterpillars make it to the Chrysalis stage because this plant is also favored by the Wasps.

However, that being said, I’m not sure this is a Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar.  I know the Caterpillars I have seen from the Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly tend to be green, not bright yellow like this one is.  I’m also making an assumption it is a Butterfly Caterpillar because of the familiar “J” shape that it is in.

Because this Caterpillar is so rare (at least for us), we actually placed it in one of our Butterfly enclosures so that the wasps and other predators don’t attack it.

So, for those that might know, or care to do the research, is this a Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar?

Sulphur Caterpillar

Sulphur Caterpillar

The following pictures show the same Caterpillar, but these were taken with the Macro lens.  If you click on the pictures, you can really see some interesting detail.

Sulphur Caterpillar Macro

Sulphur Caterpillar Macro

Sulphur Caterpillar Macro 2

Sulphur Caterpillar Macro 2

Sulphur Caterpillar Macro 3

Sulphur Caterpillar Macro 3

Related posts:

  1. Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly
  2. Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
  3. Mystery Caterpillar
  4. Caterpillar Killer
  5. Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar

texdr - Isn’t that the truth. If someone would have told me I would have an interest in insects a few years ago I would have told them they are crazy!March 1, 2011 – 9:07 pm

Linda Rippert - When you really study these little critters, they are no longer scary but become fascinating!March 1, 2011 – 3:36 pm

Syracusian - While I appreciate the “beauty” of these amazing photographs and their subjects (the critters)……damn some of these things are SCAREY. Maybe because thru these wonderful photographs, them seem the size of Godzilla!!November 6, 2009 – 9:39 am

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