The Lunch Guest by Chipka
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Description
On a day I now recognize as Ninja-Photographer-Saturday, we (Marilyn, Tara, Corey, Mark, Dave, Cheri, and Juanita) wandered around the Museum Campus along Chicago’s lakefront. We spent quite a lot of time laughing and talking and laughing and talking and laughing and talking…while in between bouts of laughing and talking, we took pictures (and ate lunch.) We were quite the team, actually—an even male/female mix of various complimentary personalities. The USS Enterprise crew is a pale imitation of Renderosity’s Chicago Away Team of wild Ninja photographers.
After lunch, out in the open air, I moved away from the tables for my normal after-meal cigarette. I took my camera with me, just in case there was something interesting in the tree that I’d stolen shelter under. I saw moss and lichens and thought to photograph them when something moved within my line of sight. I thought it was a beetle of some sort. There were, after all, a few interesting beetle specimens ambling around the tree in question: an Elm, I believe. What greeted my gaze was no beetle. I’m fond of caterpillars (among other things) and wow…what a specimen. I have no idea what species of critter this is, and I’m anxious to find out. I love these things and I snapped numerous pictures of this particular individual. I have no idea what purpose the candy-apple red head might serve, and I'm uncertain as to what (other than beauty) the hair patterns may serve, but it’s all incredibly spectacular.
As we walked, Cheri spotted another of these critters with an equally red head and insect-larva plumage. Whatever breed of extravagance this wonder belongs to, I’m glad it exists, and well…Chicago is a richer city for them and for the people I was with when I saw the first of what I hope will be many, many more.
This is one of the pictures that reminds me most of the Saturday that Team Renderosity got together and painted the windy city red!
As always, thank you for viewing and commenting and reading, and hopefully you're all having a great weekend.
Comments (20)
MOSKETON
EXISTE ESTE GUSANO ?? MUY BUENA IMAGEN FELICIDADES.
MrsRatbag
What a strange and beautiful creature! Excellent capture, Chip!
elfin12u
I remember seeing this little bugger, and wondering if it was even alive. About an inch below it was a web, complete with a very alive spider. I've never seen the likes of this before, it's head almost resembles a ripe cherry, it has a built in tooth brush on it's back, and almost banana like colored racing stripes......and I know how much you like bananas! A totally interesting looking critter well captured, Great contrast to the rough green of the lichen and bark.
Hubba1
Awesome, I love it :)
elfin14doaks
White-Marked Tussock Moth Hairy with 3 long black tufts and 4 pairs of short, thick tufts that may be white or yellow. Body is yellow with a black stripe and red spots. Grows to approx 1 1/4 inches and feeds on many trees. Found in the eastern areas. http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/america/popups/picture89.htm I googled it, I had too. I have been looking and looking. What the heck are they doing here! Great shot!
ToniDunlap
Always fantastic words and art to accompany them. Bravo!!
blinkings
Gorgeous. The hair on it's back looks like teeth.
bimm3d
superb!!!!!!!!!!!!!
auntietk
What a thoroughly bizarre individual! I believe this is the Fuller Brush man of the caterpillar world. Do you remember the Fuller Brush man? Did they still come around when you were a child, or am I dating myself? There used to be salesmen who sold brushes door to door, and people found it quite handy. To the best of my recollection, they did not have fire-engine red heads, but they always had such fascinating things in their sample cases! Anyway, I digress ... The ornamentation along this little guy's back makes me think of shaving brushes all lined up, and no matter how much I imagine and speculate, the reason for such a thing escapes me! Perhaps they're in charge of cleaning out straws? And that hairdo! My word. I have never seen anything like this! It looks like it was built by committee. I checked Cheri's link, and I think she's got it. Your shot is WAY better than theirs, btw.
Meisiekind
Oh my Chip - what a creature... Unlike you, I do not share your love of creepy crawlies and this one freaks me out worse than bananas can ever freak you out. Shivers run down my spine just looking at it on a computer screen! In saying that, I am in awe about the mere intricacy of this creature. Well spotted and captured my friend, but rather you than me!!! Hehehe...
durleybeachbum
WHAT a find! Magnificent and bizarre and outrageous. As the pic opened I immediately thought of our local Pride parade. I want to see one of these caterpillars in person now!
bmac62
Ha, Looks like he's carrying his tooth brush on his back. I did a bit of looking for ID also but wound up with a site that is temporarily down... Cheri's comment above sounds right to me. Thanks a million for looking through my gallery yesterday and your A-1 comments. I had heard you were quite the writer:)
tamburro
Fantastic macro!!!!
ladyraven23452
Ilove it.
KatesFriend
Fantastic shot Chip! I've never seen anything like this before outside of pictures from a tropical jungle. I certainly would not expect something so vibrant in the mid-west US. Curious how it contrast with it surroundings, rather counter survival in some books. But the bright colours are probably a defense against birds and other predators who might regard the caterpillar as toxic.
Xantipa
Excellent ..fantastic shot...+++5
helanker
WOW! I thought you were kidding LOL ! Now I see you were not. What a fantastic caterpillar.
kgb224
Wonderful find and capture.
blondeblurr
What a co-incidence?... 'auntietk', Tara made me aware of this "Tussock Moth", the name which I didn't know before, until she spotted mine as well and I had thought, that it was something that existed only in the Tropic's, well it just proves, how little I know ! 'Praep' is also another one, who posted one, right now...another co-incidence? HELP, we are being inundated by insect's, they are taking over...I am sure, there are more of them, than us humans, the mind boggles, imagine to end up like Franz Kafka's favourite woodlice ? You would have no problem with that, right ? Anyhow, don't they look magnificent, with a set of paint brushes, carrying them on their backs, like we carry our cameras everywhere. Cheers BB
praep
Awesome critter. Really a great macro.