tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6072479063452233450.post153476554017011606..comments2024-03-13T19:28:05.813-04:00Comments on Ohio Birds and Biodiversity: Some very cool catsJim McCormachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07444322057532066466noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6072479063452233450.post-24865829230598108212011-08-25T14:26:38.901-04:002011-08-25T14:26:38.901-04:00I agree, flux - the monkey slug is straight out of...I agree, flux - the monkey slug is straight out of bizarro world.<br /><br />Thanks Dave, and that's a great site with excellent photos. At least caterpillars generally don't have to worry about dragonflies!<br /><br />Viceroys are actually close relatives of the red-spotted purple, Heather. Look up a photo of the latter's caterpillar. Sounds like you found the husk of a caterpillar that had been victimized by a tachinid fly. Giant leopards are supposedly quite vulnerable to that.<br /><br />Peace, out.Jim McCormachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07444322057532066466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6072479063452233450.post-7251865246857740162011-08-25T10:17:44.166-04:002011-08-25T10:17:44.166-04:00I've not seen viceroy cats before. Since they ...I've not seen viceroy cats before. Since they mimic Monarchs in their butterfly form, I assumed their caterpillar would be similar to the Monarch too. Quite the contrary! Thanks for opening my eyes to that. <br />How much do you know about the Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar? The reason I ask is that I came across something black and bristly like this the other day, but it was not a living caterpillar (although I'm sure it had been at one time). It was in pieces, and the pieces showed a hollowed out interior and the exterior (the part that the bristles were attached to) was very exoskeleton-like - quite rigid and "crunchy," if you will. Perhaps a molt from one instar to the next? What do you think?Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15791185232391134319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6072479063452233450.post-35824513098870839652011-08-25T08:07:07.217-04:002011-08-25T08:07:07.217-04:00Some great caterpillars, Jim - you hit most of my ...Some great caterpillars, Jim - you hit most of my favorites. My favorite is the spicebush swallowtail, which you mentioned recently. I like the way they change their mimicry strategy from bird dropping to snake. I've got some pictures up at: http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/spicebush.htm<br /><br />Dave McShaffreyDave McShaffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12756697876078535253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6072479063452233450.post-24736686669837609852011-08-25T07:25:54.853-04:002011-08-25T07:25:54.853-04:00the monkey slug is possibly the strangest creature...the monkey slug is possibly the strangest creature I've seen in awhile...besides the snub nosed monkey.flux biota.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07881075272912004234noreply@blogger.com