I found this saddleback caterpillar (Acharia stimulea) in the woods in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Saddleback caterpillars are covered with venomous urticating hairs. For this reason, I had to be extra careful when handling this specimen.
Two weeks after this photo was taken, the caterpillar formed a cocoon and entered the pupal stage.
I used an extended 35mm lens for magnification.
In the story Insect Macros.
17 responses
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Patricia Shanahan gave props (16 Sep 2008):
Stunning capture ! Awesome macro !
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Marcela Barsse gave props (16 Sep 2008):
Great macro, cool specimen!
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meredith hanafi gave props (16 Sep 2008):
Really amazing capture! what a creature!
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Kevin Kabuki gave props (17 Sep 2008):
Looks like a nudibranch, very cool
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Lynn H gave props (17 Sep 2008):
Wow! Interesting!
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Trish Meyer gave props (18 Sep 2008):
Great shot, definitely one to be wary of.
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Jennifer Rowe gave props (18 Sep 2008):
I like your angle and dof - nice!
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Karen Zimmerman gave props (27 Sep 2008):
Super cool, Kevin!
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James Linder gave props (3 Oct 2008):
Sweet shot!
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Scott Derryberry gave props (15 Oct 2008):
i brushed one with my arm one time. some of the worst pain i ever felt!!! strange how something so beautiful causes that much pain!
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Serge Golub gave props (15 Oct 2008):
Amazing macros. If they're in Charlottesville, they're probably around here in Richmond too. That scares me.
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Kevin Collins said (15 Oct 2008):
Don't worry - most of them are in cocoons...
...At least for now. -
Ken Mooney gave props (27 Oct 2008):
Real nice macro of a strange caterpillar.
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Wallace Jones gave props (12 Nov 2008):
that does not even look real! very cool!
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Andres Garcia Lachner gave props (1 Dec 2008):
flawless work!
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linda woods gave props (23 Mar 2009):
Saddleback in happier days, indeed. Incredible work.
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Maia Coimbra said (4 Jul 2009):
nice job
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