bizarre caterpillar

Nematocampa resistaria (perhaps)

comments (6)

Christine Young

Lion

This is such a cool caterpillar, but it's not Synchlora aerata. It is a geometer, but I think the actual ID might be Nematocampa resistaria, depending on your location. The caterpillars in that species have eversible tentacles on their dorsum, like the one in your photo.

Links for comparison:

https://bugguide.net/node/view/3977/bgimage
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/81656-Nematocampa-resistaria/browse_photos
Posted 2 years ago

Slowbutsteady

Lion

Thanks. What kind of moth does it morph into? Posted 2 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Sorry, I missed your question before! When replying to someone, it's best to hit 'reply' on their comment so they will get a notification.
  
  As an adult, it will be this moth (assuming the ID of Nematocampa resistaria is correct):
  https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/81656-Nematocampa-resistaria Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    One really cool thing about this species is that the tentacles can be extended or retracted! Posted 2 years ago

Slowbutsteady

Lion

Wonderful follow-up info. Thank you Posted 2 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  You're welcome :) Posted 2 years ago

The Horned spanworm moth

''Nematocampa resistaria'', commonly known as the filament bearer, bordered thorn or horned spanworm moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, south to Florida and California. This species was split from the Eurasian ''Nematocampa limbata''.

Info 12 0

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by Slowbutsteady

By Slowbutsteady

Uploaded Aug 10, 2023. Captured May 2, 2021 10:15.

country flag of United States of America

Explore United States of America 39,925 9,640 8

E-M1MarkII
f/11.0
1/250s
ISO2500
105mm

This photo also appears in

Discover more photo collections