Tussock Moth Caterpillar by lick.a.witch

Photography • Insects • posted on Jan 02, 2011

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Description

Here is another 'shall I, shan't I' image, but frankly, though an otherwise slightly boring shot, the Tussock Moth caterpillar warrants a view, if only for it's beauty. And before those in the know scream 'PEST' - I know already. I also believe that the trees this creature feeds on would probably by now have found a way to overcome this 'pest' were it not for the fact that we are so darned free with our use of pesticides. I remember once watching a science programme and apparently trees can, given enough time, repel a disease. It is a scientific fact that a line of Oaks, where the first in line is attacked, can and does send a message to all other oaks in that line and they do respond with an antedote! See! Ents DO exist - sort of. (This is MY world - remember?) ^-^ Anyway, I like the moth, both in this state and when it is a fully fledged fluffy person! I've cut another of the moth into image to show the banding when the creature is fully extended, though it refused to move another muscle whilst I stood there - so you will have to use your imagination to 'see' all the banding. ^-^ For those interested in the blue Apatite in the image, just type Cornwall, and Apatite into google and you will soon know far more about them than I do. I just collect the stuff and as much quartz as I can and run home with it! It is abundant here, though most embedded so deeply I'd need a hammer drill to remove it. ^=^ As an aside, I believe it was a Tussock Moth that Gandalf sent to summon the Eagles! Off to beach then back to set up new printer - it's an Epson - so it's bound to throw a tantrum or two! Regardless - I shall overcome - or perhaps I'll just have a good cry! ^=* Thank you for taking the time to look. ^=^

Comments (14)

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durleybeachbum

5:42AM | Sun, 02 January 2011

What OUTRAGEOUS clothes these people have!! I love the fact that plants 'talk' to each other, I have noticed that in my own garden. I think we'll do the beach today too.

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jayfar

5:43AM | Sun, 02 January 2011

A couple of beauties Carpathia well worth showing to the world of Renderosity!

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2121

5:44AM | Sun, 02 January 2011

fine looking creature...and yes your comment about mans interference with nature is so true...pesticides, the only reason ?. so we can got to the supermarket and get food that lasts for a week then goes off !!. It's funny, nature managed to sort itself out for millions of years before we came along...and have we made things better ?, i think not sometimes.Sorry, touchy subject for me..being a tree hugger and all.LOL

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VEDES

6:28AM | Sun, 02 January 2011

VERY BEAUTIFUL CREATURES.SUPERB SHOT!!!

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jmb007

7:45AM | Sun, 02 January 2011

bonne photo!

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Carlahoon

8:05AM | Sun, 02 January 2011

good macro work!!

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Erestorfan

10:18AM | Sun, 02 January 2011

Wow, these are beautiful!!! They make you want to pet them! Hmm....interesting about the possibility it was a Tussock moth that Gandalf used! That was a beautiful moth! You're right about the trees coming up with a defense if given a chance. Here in New Hampshire and other places here in New England, we were plagued with Gypsy Moth caterpillars. Some years they were so bad that you'd look at what you thought was tree bark and in truth it was a solid mass of caterpillars...and if you stood on the edge of the woods, you'd hear what you thought was rain falling in the trees, but it was caterpillar poop. We had some bad years...and then they seemed to disappear and the scientists said that the trees had come up with chemical defenses that made them unappetizing to the pests. Oh, we still see a few here and there and some years we see more than others, but nothing on the scale it was.

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Blush

1:55PM | Sun, 02 January 2011

Ohhhh I love that lemon yellow color Excellent capture Hugs Susan~

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alida

3:58PM | Sun, 02 January 2011

lovely color

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bimm3d

1:11AM | Mon, 03 January 2011

gorgeous photo!!

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SIGMAWORLD

7:36AM | Mon, 03 January 2011

Interesting.

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tennesseecowgirl

10:16AM | Tue, 04 January 2011

Wow they are amazing..

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Chipka

6:01PM | Fri, 07 January 2011

I agree with Andrea...their clothing is deliciously outrageous! Insects and their larvae have such impeccable fashion sense! And these are lovely. I've never seen them wearing such vibrant yellow. The ones in Chicago are interlopers and it looks as if they wear shaving brushes arranged in a neat row on their backs...okay, and they look a bit like elongated Las Vegas showgirls, carrying shaving brushes on their backs...and for as gorgeous as THEY are with their candy-apple red heads, this duo really shows of the more yellow bit of the fashion spectrum, and for me, this is an immensely exciting photo!

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