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Peppermint looper (Paralaea beggaria)
This little caterpillar was swinging on it's own bungee cord from a large gum tree.
Crazy-paved pink/purple head shield. About 20mm long.
Found in a local sports nature reserve.
Highly variable as larvae.. good description here...
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/naco/beggar.html
When young, these Caterpillars are prettily striped. The green dorsal surface has broad dorsal and ventro-lateral stripes that are black and dotted with white. The sides are creamy yellow with a brown lateral stripe. The ventral surface is green. The brick-red head and tail segment adds to the striking appearance of the caterpillar.
The mature caterpillars have a number of colour forms. Most have a green dorsal surface and blue-green ventral surface, which are separated by a yellow lateral.. more
comments (2)
Check it out!!! This gorgeous caterpillar is a Peppermint Looper (Paralaea beggaria), which is native to Australia. They fed on Gum trees (Eucalyptus sp.) and are known to defoliate large areas during outbreaks. When mature, the caterpillar will construct a silken bed on which it will pupate. After several months, a grayish brown adult moth will emerge. {Spotted in Victoria, Australia by JungleDragon moderator, Mark Ridgway} #JungleDragon
Posted 6 years ago