Friday, October 17, 2008

More backyard finds--caterpillars

We have come across some interesting caterpillars crawling around our backyard this fall. This first one looks to be a banded tussock moth (Dasychira obliquata.) Here is what it looks like as an adult moth (not as aesthetically interesting.)


This critter is a polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus.) The moth this will eventually become is enormous! We will have to keep watch for them in the coming weeks. If I find this caterpillar again we may keep it until it metamorphoses.

It just looked to us as if it were Eric Carle's inspiration for his Very Hungry Caterpillar.

2 comments:

Jeanne said...

Hi Kris!

I found your blog from the MEP site - great maths, isn't it!

I too come from a medical background, so science is important - and much loved - in our homeschool too.

I look forward to have a good look at some of your older posts soon!

That caterpillar is gorgeous!

Jeanne
http://ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com/

Kris said...

Thanks for stopping by! We are really loving MEP--I am so glad we have changed over to it.