Remember that bug I found on one of my tomatoes growing in the garden? I found it by browsing the What's That Bug on the first page of caterpillars. Yay, poisonous spines!
Saddleback Caterpillar
(08/08/2004) Hello Bugman,
My wife found this really awesome caterpillar a few days ago on her Gerber Daisies. I have been looking all over the Internet trying to identify it, when I stumbled across you site. It looks like someone has asked you about a particular “Saddleback Caterpillar”, and that seems to fit the description of the picture I'm sending you now. Is that what this is? Thanks for your help!
Gray Benton
Iron Station, North CarolinaHi Gray,
Yes, indeed, you have a Saddleback Caterpillar, Sibine stimulea. Beware those poisonous spines. They can cause quite a bit or irritation. Holland writes: “Nettles are not to be compared in stinging power to the armament of this beautifully colored larva.” Thanks for the photo and I'm so glad our site was helpful.