I realize this picture is far from being a good picture … it is better than the next one.
Take into account the 3/4 inch caterpillar hung from a strand of silk, blowing in the wind. I had to hold my hand behind the swinging caterpillar so the camera had a chance of focusing on the caterpillar.
Caterpillars of the hackberry butterfly feed on leaves of the hackberry tree.
Hackberry butterflies (Asterocampa celtis) visit moist places, tree sap, rotting fruit and even animal droppings.
They will also land on me for the sweat.
It could also be the caterpillar of the tawny emperor butterfly (Asterocampa clyton). Both have green caterpillars with a slight variation of yellow striping on their back.
Both species should begin flying around the first of June.
Posted by Pat on May 11, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Ha,ha! I had to laugh because I was just trying to get a shot exactly like this, but it’s pretty gusty out today and I couldn’t focus. You did a good job getting that little green critter.
Posted by New Hampshire Garden Solutions on May 11, 2014 at 5:36 pm
I haven’t tried to get shots of too many caterpillars but I can imagine it not being easy when the wind is involved. The butterflies are beauties!
Posted by naturesnippets on May 11, 2014 at 7:00 pm
That was my first for swinging caterpillars. Kind of felt like a nut. At least I got the information I wanted in a blog.
Posted by Sue on May 12, 2014 at 8:14 pm
It’s not often that I see the end product of all that caterpillar munching. They crawl away to pupate and I miss the photo of the butterfly. Thanks for showing both phases here.
Posted by naturesnippets on May 12, 2014 at 9:14 pm
Watch puddles, animal droppings, rotting fruit and of course flowers. Our butterfly numbers are real low now and I suspect it’s from the winter we had.
Posted by bayphotosbydonna on May 15, 2014 at 1:03 pm
Love the butterflies, but I go crazy nuts when walking under a tree and walk into the swinging caterpillers….or spiders for that matter! lol
Posted by naturesnippets on May 15, 2014 at 3:47 pm
We don’t seem to have many species that “hang” from trees. As for spiders … can get some big webs between/in trees.