Going through photos for the new catalog I came across these pics. While working this past fall I happened upon this not-so-little creature crossing the pathway. It is called the Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar and had clearly been feeding all summer on our walnut trees. In the fall they come down from the tree tops to find a place to burrow and pupate over the winter underground.
A few days later while planting I actually dug one up from underground that had already started to go to sleep. Then a few days after that I found another one still crawling around.
The horned devil is pretty ferocious looking, but actually quite harmless. My other fall finds were two different species of "slug" caterpillars, and I found out the hard way that THOSE guys are NOT all that harmless, because after touching one of those my finger when numb
Next year I'm looking forward to watching for the Regal Moths that these turn into
Hickory Horned Devil (not for the squeamish)
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Hickory Horned Devil (not for the squeamish)
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See what OC finds when he has (or takes) time
to browse the whole forum. Nice shot Chris. OC thinks he is pretty too. Love those horns. Maybe you WILL get lucky and see the moth....
OC liking you picture......
OC liking you picture......
There may be snow in the garden, but there will always be eternal springtime in the heart of this old gardner - Saying of Old Coot