So, I keep spotting these amazing caterpillars around my neighborhood, but cataclysmic events (for the caterpillars, at least) keep preventing me from taking pictures, so here’s a couple of quick photoshops.
The first one, a huge green caterpillar, which was nearly the length of my hand, probably 5 inches long, was crawling along on the sidewalk next to the Carlingwood mall. There was no fuzz on him, just a weird light green crisscross stripe that looked like a woodworker’s inlay. Beautiful pattern! I saw him while I was walking over to the mall without my camera, and desperately wanted to get a picture, but wasn’t sure what to do – carry him with me into the Bell store? “Hello. Fix my internet, damn you, or I’ll sick my giant man-eating caterpillar on you.” It was quickly resolved for me though – a bird flew down and snatched him away. A big bird.
The second one was large for a caterpillar but not as huge as the first one – I spotted him just outside the door of my building after biking home. “Aha!” I yelled, “I have my camera with me this time!” So I ripped my camera out of my bag, knelt down at the side of the road, and as I did this, a crazy lady who was waiting for someone by the door in her van peeled out and drove over it. Twice. Inches away from me. Cater-Murdered. He burst into a big pile of green goo, leaving me traumatized for life. All I got was a picture of the car tire. Who does that? Who drives over a creature that someone is clearly trying to take a picture of? Caterpillar pyscho-lady, that’s who.
Anyone want to try to identify these as best you can given my probably somewhat inaccurate proportions?


3 responses so far ↓
1 Mad // Aug 25, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Have you tried this site?
http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/america/
2 sarah // Aug 26, 2009 at 7:10 pm
the green one sounds like a luna moth caterpillar, I’m pretty sure. We took some pics of one a few years back.
3 jcobill // Aug 26, 2009 at 7:17 pm
It might be a Luna Moth Caterpillar, Sarah – I took a look online and saw a lot of variation in pictures of the species. I think it’s the size that counts most, there can’t be that many giant green crawlies to pick from.
Thanks to Mad I have a lead on the yellow one, as well, just trying to get specific before I post an update.
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