A few weeks ago Farmer Mary thought a child had left a toy behind when she found this on the ground. When she picked it up, it curled up in a ball. She googled and found it was. HICKORY HORNED DEVIL caterpillar.
In a few weeks it turned into this:
here is the view of the other side.
Here is what it will look like one day.
THEN, yesterday another caterpillar showed up.
Friends of the farm helped identify it as an IMPERIAL MOTH caterpillar. After researching, Farmer Mary released it in her back yard (away from hungry birds!) since it is probably searching for soft ground to burrow into for the winter. When it rebirths it will marry by midnight that same day.
Here is what it will look like one day.
