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Photo#327133
Harrisimemna trisignata (harris' three spot moth) caterpillar - Harrisimemna trisignata

Harrisimemna trisignata (harris' three spot moth) caterpillar - Harrisimemna trisignata
Broome County, New York, USA
August 30, 2009
Size: 4 cm
I found 2 caterpillars in all, in my row of 8 blueberry bushes. The first was a startling experience--the creature began flailing its front body parts wildly, back and forth. When I realized it was a caterpillar and approached it closer, it froze and hung limply from its center section, resembling a bird dropping. Eventually it started crawling and eating blueberry leaves again. The caterpillar has "feet" on the front (orange or rust colored) segment, on the hairy white zone, and at the back end. In between there are black areas with no "feet." These in-between areas seem to fold when the caterpillar goes limp, disguising itself as a bird dropping. The photo was identified for me by Hugh McGuinness of butterfiesandmoths.org.

Ellen,
Please contact us by email (see our contributor page here) regarding permission to display on Plates at Moth Photographers Group photographs of moths and larvae that you have posted here at BugGuide. You’ll have to translate our address into a real email one, sorry. Thanks, J&J.

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