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Photo#699031
Prominent(?) caterpillar - Schizura ipomaeae

Prominent(?) caterpillar - Schizura ipomaeae
Strafford, Windsor County, Vermont, USA
September 2, 2012
Size: ~4cm
I found this caterpillar crossing a dirt road, so no info on food plant. It resembles some Heterocampinae. There are two tachinid eggs(?) on the side.

Images of this individual: tag all
Prominent(?) caterpillar - Schizura ipomaeae Prominent(?) caterpillar - Schizura ipomaeae Prominent(?) caterpillar - Schizura ipomaeae Prominent(?) caterpillar - Schizura ipomaeae Prominent(?) caterpillar - Schizura ipomaeae

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Formic acid
I forgot to mention that when I picked it up I noticed the smell of formic acid on my fingers. Apparently that's a common defense in the group.

 
Yeah, there are warnings not
Yeah, there are warnings not to pick them up. The ones (unicornis) I collected didn't spray me for some reason. Perhaps it was because they were so close to pupating.

With the hump on A5
we would suggest ipomoeae

 
That sure is similar to Schiz
That sure is similar to Schizura unicornis.


Any other similar species?

 
No A5 hump
I guess S. unicornis shouldn't have the distinct A5 hump of S. ipomoeae.

 
I realize that. I'm just wond
I realize that. I'm just wondering if there are others that are similar in appearance.

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