Stinging Nettle Slug Caterpillar (Cup Moth, Setora baibarana, Limacodidae) "The Clown"

For me, photographing insects in this part of the world is full of "WHAT THE **** !!" moments. Trust me when I tell you I said it out loud several times over when I found this creation.

These caterpillars are custom built with every conceivable self-protection device imaginable. Bright, garish colors which are like danger signs in nature saying "I taste awful" or "I am loaded with poison; multiple stinging barbs which inflict painful and persistent burning rashes (on humans anyway); false eyes pointing in every direction to say " I see you, you can't surprise me"; a head end that looks the same as the rear end so there can be no potential surprise attack from behind; and specific to the Limacodid caterpillars (who actually have no true legs, hence the slug in their name), a sticky adhesive underside that makes them very difficult to prise off their food plant. With that in mind, stinging nettle caterpillars are often not hard to find. They don't conceal themselves day or night and will often be in the most conspicuous of locations. Basically, they have little to fear.

I will be posting more of these......
Pu'er, Yunnan, China

View my other images of Limacodid Caterpillars from China (Beijing and Yunnan) in the set, Limacodid (Cup Moth) Caterpillars.

Taken in: 中國 / 云南省 / 思茅 (show map)

Taken on: May 23, 2012

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Sets appears in: • Album 1 of 6 - Explored/25+ faves/1500+ views • Caterpillars more » • Limacodid Slug Caterpillars (Cup Moths, Limacodidae) • Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) « less

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Camera: Sony DSC-R1, f/16.0, 1/160 sec, 42.9mm, ISO 160 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony DSC-R1
Aperture:	f/16.0
Exposure Time:	0.006 sec (1/160)
Focal Length:	42.9mm
ISO:	160
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	On, Fired
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Manual
Light Source:	Flash
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	QuickTime 7.7.1
Show full info

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