Observation date: September 20, 2018
Submitted by: Midnightangel75
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: It was around 95 degrees outside. I noticed only two of them, walking thru the dirt. I attempted to place them on the tree that they were walking by (Maple tree I believe). They instead, burrowed into the dirt, leaves and branches at the foot of the tree, and have stayed, burrowed in there. They have little white hairs on them, and a harder yellow type tail and yellowish orange face. There appeared to be little green, short thorns down each side of the top of the body. Also, some yellow thorny horns on top of the head. I did pick them up, attempting to help them get out of harms way (pet dogs and cats), and they did not try to harm me. They were actually a little heavy. One even had little eggs on the underneath, top part of it's body. I'm not sure if they were their own, or if an insect laid them there. They were the size of my finger, and I have fat fingers. I have never seen one of these before in my life. As I said, I only saw two ( i looked around), and they were traveling not far from one another. One of them had some mud or something on the top of its head, but I took a photo of it next to my foot. These are really big caterpillars! I'm not sure what they will turn into! They were not aggressive or hostile. They just wanted to get to where they were going. They were amazing to just watch walking around. :)
Status: Resident
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: August 27, 2023
Coordinator notes: None.
