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Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar


Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar
Photo Information
Copyright: Randy Dillinger (Dillinger) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 47 W: 18 N: 63] (217)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-23
Categories: Insects
Exposure: f/2.8
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Caterpillars [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-10-21 10:03
Viewed: 894
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this photo at Yankee Springs Recreation Area near Middleville, Michigan. In comparing with photos online, I believe this is the larva of the spiny oak slug moth (Euclea delphinii). This one appears to have a piece of bark or a leaf stuck to it.

Some information gleaned from Wikipedia:

As a member of the family Limacodidae, the slug moth receives its common name as the larva bear a distant resemblance to slugs.

LARVA: The larva is flattened and ovoid in outline, with spiny tubercules along the back and sides. These are mildly stinging. The sides have craters ringed with black or white along them. In the final instar they usually have two to four sets of black hairs at the tail end that can fall off. These are called "caltrop" spines after the Roman defensive weapons. Larva coloration varies. Like all limacodids, the legs are shortened and the prolegs are reduced to suction cups. Maximum length is 20mm.

PUPA: The spiny oak slug pupates in a cup-shaped cocoon with a circular escape hatch.

ADULT: The small (1cm) moth is "hairy" and brown, with green patches on the upper wing. The underwing is a paler grey-brown.

FOOD PLANTS: Feeds on a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs, not limited to apple, ash, basswood, beech, birch, blueberry, cherry, chestnut, hackberry, hickory, maple, oak, poplar, sycamore, and willow.
tuslaw, eqshannon, jpdenk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To LordPotty: Thanks for the commentDillinger 1 03-13 09:33
To eqshannon: ThanksDillinger 1 12-19 07:14
To jpdenk: Thanks for the critiqueDillinger 1 12-19 07:04
To anel: ThanksDillinger 1 12-19 06:58
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • eliz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 167 W: 22 N: 269] (1535)
  • [2008-10-21 10:45]

incredible species.

thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 501 W: 20 N: 1381] (4827)
  • [2008-10-21 18:17]

Beautiful caterpillar Randy,
I suppose it's considered a caterpillar even though it's technically a larva. Anyways it has amazing colors and those thorny looking spines are wild looking. TFS.
Ron

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2008-10-23 13:16]

Hi Randy

A lovely caterpillar - well framed with good isolation from the BG. Well seen and captured.

James

Hello Randy.

Excellent image,Very good details and colors.

Regards.
Jose Luis.

Keen little bugger..nice colourings...I used to live in Ohio..well born there and lived for 30 years before marrying and coming west...so I have some familiarity with your area as well..You are not far from the dunes..,.Very nice Randy...i am going to look around and see what ya got here..
Bob

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1722 W: 0 N: 3901] (15676)
  • [2008-12-18 5:06]
  • [+]

hello Randy,
Amazing shape and colors for this special caterpillar. And you even found out which species it is. Bravo! I put it into the theme "caterpillars" if you don't mind.
Thanks and have a nice day
Anne

Hi Randy,

Wow, what an impressive beast! Looks like it ought to be crawling around on a coral reef. Nice composition and exposure, would have liked to see the focus on the closest part of the caterpillar for best results.

I was keeping an eye peeled for slug caterpillars this past autumn, didn't see a single one, darn it.

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 442 W: 0 N: 427] (3110)
  • [2009-01-14 14:54]

Hello Randy
Nice picture with an interesting caterpillar, good colors and details, the composition is clean
Congratulations
Nilson

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2569] (9065)
  • [2009-03-11 9:32]

Hi Randy,
thanks for liking my palm shot and also thanks for giving a useful workshop. Really appreciate your concern in improving the shot.
Such a beautiful creature. Very unique and indeed captivating with brilliant colours. You did very well in showing it, full of details and excellent sharpness.
Well presented in stylish downward composition.

regards,
Foozi

Hey,this is cool Randy!
I've never seen this one before.
Does it sting?
Some that look like this do.
TFS & Cheers,
Steve

amazing caterpillar, pity it is not in focus, TFS Ori

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