Something strange and beautiful in the trees.

[greygirlbeast]

On the 13th (last Sunday) we were walking beneath the old apple trees behind the cottage, and I happened to spot a spectacularly large caterpillar on one of the branches. It was at least 3 inches long, a bit larger than my thumb. A quick glance at the appropriate Peterson field guide identified it as belonging to the Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), one of the largest species of North American moths. Spooky got some photos (behind the cut):

Comments

[blackestdarkness]

Wow, those photos are beautiful.

For someone who's never read your work (only your blog, yeah I know weird) what would you recommend as a good starting point to your work?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

For someone who's never ready your work (only your blog, yeah I know weird) what would you recommend as a good starting point to your work?

Well, I'd say To Charles Fort, With Love, which I'm pretty sure contains some of my best work. as for novels, try Low Red Moon or (in a few months) Daughter of Hounds.

[dyfferent.livejournal.com]

What a fantastic looking creature! It's beautiful, thanks for posting it.

[z0mb1e.livejournal.com]

It is bizarrly comforting to see that all the strange (and beautiful) little hidden things haven't all been driven to extinction.

[colonelrowe.livejournal.com]

It's like it's looking right at me...

[cappsize.livejournal.com]

Um... the 13th unfortunately did not fall on a Friday this year, but was on Sunday. I say this with genuine regret because it happens to be my birthday & I LOVE the years when it falls on a Friday.

This does not make the photos any less gorgeous or cool, however.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Um... the 13th unfortunately did not fall on a Friday this year, but was on Sunday.

Whoops.

[cappsize.livejournal.com]

It's not like it matters, or changes the content of the photos & you know, if it wasn't my birthday, I'd never even have caught it. I think every 13th of the month should fall on a Friday & I especially think my birthdays should

I can't get over all the cammoflauge/subterfuge going on with that guy. Amazing shot.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

My dad was born on Friday 13th. It's a lucky combo.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

I've noticed this happens to writers a lot.

Also, lovely moth.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

er. caterpillar. 0.o

[sclerotic-rings.livejournal.com]

I'm always painfully jealous of you, but now I have further reason. The maple trees out in front of my old house in Chicago were full of cecropia caterpillars, and the only thing more beautiful than the caterpillars is the resultant moth. (You might want to talk to oakenking for more information: he has some stunning pictures of the whole life cycle (http://www.wormspit.com/cecropia.htm).)

[niamh-sage.livejournal.com]

Thank you for these links. You just broadened my horizons a little bit further :D

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

That's a very beautiful creature. I have to confess a mild phobia of caterpillars of all types after a childhood spent in gypsy moth central, but that is definitely something to see.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Wow! It looks like some sort of alien. The title of your post would make an excellent title for a story!

[yvonnenavarro.livejournal.com]

During the summer between sixth and seventh grade, I snagged one of these exquisitely interesting caterpillars from a tree branch and took it home. I put it in an aquarium with some rocks and branches with plenty of leaves on it, spritzed some water on things now and then, and left it alone. It wove itself into a tidy cocoon and then, predictably, did nothing for a very long time. So long, in fact, that some time later (I really have no sense of time for estimating back then) my Mom demanded I toss it down the toilet. I didn't want to, but she was insistent. So I did, watching it for a moment before I pushed the handle.

It twitched. I was sure of it.

I stuck my hand in the toilet (thankfully, clean) snatched up the cocoon, and put it back in the aquarium, where it was definitely moving around. Several hours later, spreading and drying its incredible wings, was a gorgeous, fully formed and none the worse for its water experience Cecropia moth. I took the aquarium outside, took off the lid, and watched it fly away.

It probably means nothing in the scheme of nature's plan, but it's a very cool memory. :)

[niamh-sage.livejournal.com]

What a great story :D I'm glad you could save the cocoon, and have the experience of the moth emerging!

[setsuled.livejournal.com]

Wow. He looks like a Christmas ornament.

[sovay]

That's lovely.

[katrina-strauss.livejournal.com]

That is a fat caterpillar! Interesting colors on those, well, whatever those protusions are...

[niamh-sage.livejournal.com]

Lovely photos of an amazing creature. Thank you!

[pkbarbiedoll.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful creature.

[vireoibis.livejournal.com]

Lookit its widdle feets!
Actually, s/he looks like a strange sculpture with some lanterns on it.