Signs of a Saddleback

I was inspecting my three hibiscus plants when I spotted some signs of a visitor on the red one.

First, I noticed some eaten leaves.

Then some frass/poop scattered on the lower leaves. I even found a shed skin that the muncher left behind after molting.

I knew from the spikes on the skin that my favorite caterpillar was on the underside of a leaf.

I had to search carefully. Its sting is painful.

Here it is. The Saddleback caterpillar/ Sibine stimulea. Still snacking.

Its rear end looks like it has eyes, but the poop is evidence that this is not its face.

I love these spiky, mean, green things!

FLOW

Following Caterpillars

This is so much easier than chasing butterflies.

My three Saddlebacks, Acharia stimulea, have stayed on the coffee tree for weeks now.

They are slowly getting bigger as they nibble leaves away from end to stem.

I caught a photo of one just as it molted.

One paused on top of a bean for hours.

I have been stung several times trying to find them. I pester pests.

They have a face on their backside to trick predators.

I will miss them when they pupate.

It’s been one of my daily tasks to check on them.

Beautiful but toxic.

Not everything cute should be petted.

Flower

I feel fortunate that I found these little Saddleback Caterpillars.

They were not in their usual place, the underside of leaves on the banana trees.

This year they are on my coffee tree.

I only found them because I was removing scale from the underside of the coffee leaves.

There are three. All are small.

This one is not much bigger than those nasty scale.( brown dot on the left)

They hide under the leaves and crawl along the stem to another leaf.

The spines of the Sabine stimulea sting, so I know not to touch them.

Look but don’t touch!

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