Hallson Gardens

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

yuck!

Claudia

I think he's pretty cool looking! Never seen or heard of those before. Glad they are harmless... sounds like you have quite a few of them there!

Wow Chris! I think he's quite beautiful too! I'm glad you have those hard-workin' fingers in that one pic so we can see that fellers' size! I've never seen this one before.

Don't you wonder what interesting things are all around us all the time?!?.....p

That is kewl.....reminds me of a tomato hornworm

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......