Unbelievable example of protective coloration

[hendi_alex]

First time I've ever seen this type of caterpillar. I can certainly understand why I overlooked it. Today I was looking dead at the animal, and the only reason that I recognized the critter was because it pooped while I was looking at it. Hope you enjoy the photos of this marvelous animal.

See what I mean! Looks just like the stick, even when you know that he is there.
[img]https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3942669014_578a2d18c9.jpg[/img]



[img]https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3941888921_573efb2ee9.jpg[/img]

And when he is moving, the worm pulls another deception out of his bag of tricks. Looks just like a lichen.
[img]https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2476/3941883545_0e60dd2e79.jpg[/img]

[img]https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2507/3942663658_a4832bfb38.jpg[/img]

It is a good sized caterpillar at over 2 inches. Its skin has a very interesting texture.
[img]https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2574/3942659076_996926c19d.jpg[/img]

[applestar]

Thanks for sharing this, Alex. The photo series made the effectiveness of the camouflage very clear.

I showed my kids and, after they've had the chance to study the photos and appreciate how difficult it is to see it on the stick, told them how you spotted it: DD10 -- "(snicker) That's not a very good way of hiding. It must not be a spy caterpillar." DD7 -- "Oh, Oh! I think it got so scared it 'inked' the poop out!"

[hendi_alex]

I did a quick search online. The animal appears to be Artace cribraria (lappet moth) which forms a medium sized white moth with contrasting spots. They feed on oak tree leaves and other hard woods.

[tomf]

It looks as if it changes color to match it's stick, quite a trick.

[vintagejuls]

What a pretty catapillar! Amazing how it can become the stick - WOW! Thanks for sharing Alex.

[Tinybu88les8]

wow, this is so neat! At first I was looking at the pictures (before reading the text) and I was like "I don't get it. its just a stick." haha. not your average stick :op