We had a lovely time yesterday, starting late after 1.00 p.m. We were going to run an errand or two, deciding to stop for lunch and we enjoyed the drive. Not driving in heavy traffic on the freeway but that was later.
Rush hour going home. This was a quieter patch.
I had it in mind to see if we could take more photos of Halloween decorations in this quaint little town we have been to. It was not too far out of our way. But first, as we were rolling out of the driveway, I saw a dark shape at the side of our front door. Curiosity kicked in and I asked hubs if he would stop so that I could get out and take a photo. Whatever it was I knew by the time we got back, as has happened many times, it would no longer be there and my curiosity was zinging.
The double vision that I have, has been corrected by my relatively new prism glasses. Hubs was amazed I had spotted it. I jokingly told him “I miss nothing!” and in a joking way he answered, “Oh I know that!” He knows my peripheral vision is excellent too and now, sorry for tooting my own horn but I am grateful that my vision was taken care of by one visit to the ophthalmologist. I know others are having their own serious eye issues, in our family and elsewhere, so not intending to make light of this by any means. I got out of the car to see this interesting creature.
Here it is! Google identified it as a Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar. The photo below was borrowed from this website if you would like to learn more.
I read that several species of black, hairy caterpillars can be found in northern Virginia, particularly during the spring and autumn months. While many look intimidatingly spiky or fuzzy, most are completely harmless, though particularly sensitive individuals may suffer skin irritations. Our Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar (Hypercompe scribonia) is the most strictly all-black caterpillar you will encounter in Northern Virginia. They are large, up to 3 inches long and densely covered with stiff, jet-black bristles. When they feel threatened, they roll tightly into a ball. This behavior reveals bright red or orange bands between the body segments. These caterpillars are harmless. Their bristles may be stiff but they lack stinging venom (though see previous red lettering).
I am hoping the caterpillar was heading up to the overhang over our door to find a crevice to pupate. It would be very interesting for me to see this process. I found a great website here that tells all about our moth. It is called ‘Dave the Bug Guy’. Dave has excellent photos. You can just about see his front lens in the next photo.
The other news I had today was that we have another bear moving through our area. It was seen eating out of someone’s bird feeder. We have been asked not to fill ours until it has moved on. The last sighting was a couple of years ago. At the time it was said to have been kicked out of the den by its mother. I am assuming this is the same situation. Nature’s way of telling the young bear it is time to move on and find a place of its own. As the weather gets colder I will resume feeding. Hopefully our young bear will find a nice safe place to hibernate for the winter.
In my next post I will have several photos we took today. Here’s a peek!
take good care of yourselves.
Denise, thanks for your sights... I wish you a nice Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure to share them Andreja. Thank you very much, I wish you a nice Wednesday also :)
DeleteI don't need to touch the caterpillar, or a bear. Be careful! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteHi Linda and thank you for the concern :) so kind of you.
DeleteI find this black caterpillar so beautiful, and the moth it turns into is quite unique—it fits the Halloween theme perfectly. A bear is roaming around near you? Wow—well, you’d better hold off on the feeding, then! That’s a lovely photo collage!
ReplyDeletehugs Elke
I am very happy you enjoyed this pretty caterpillar Elke and the collage. I agree, it certainly does. Hopefully the bear is already moving through to more safer and isolated areas. Safer for him and for us :) Hugs, Denise.
DeleteThat is one mighty moth and lovely too. Isn't it good to be able to see so well.
ReplyDeleteThe bear story interested me, one so close I suppose will do no harm if not tormented or am I totally wrong. The photos are lovely, Denise.
Thank you Margaret, I am glad you enjoyed them. It is definitely a relief to see much better again. I am very grateful my glasses give me better vision. It is the first time I have seen this particular caterpillar. As for the bear, hopefully no one startles it. That can be very dangerous. However, they are more scared of us. I haven’t heard of any attacks in this area but in other parts of the country, walking on trails can be extremely dangerous. A lot of people attach bells to their clothing which makes the bears avoid them. Making as much noise as possible is also advised, talking loudly. Then coming across cubs is a whole different matter.
DeleteI love the cat skeleton! I do not live that far from you, and have never seen such an outrageous butterfly!! My best friend...a bear got into her house and carried her kitchen trash can outside. She was very lucky, she was asleep in her bedroom just steps away. He could have gone in there!
ReplyDeleteI haven’t seen a Halloween cat quite like that one before Ginny. It is the first time I have ever seen one of these caterpillars. I feel very lucky I did. What a scary thing your friend had to deal with, quite horrifying!
DeleteThe caterpillar looks like some kind of catkin, you may mistake it for one if you don't see it move, but doesn't it grow into a beautiful moth. I can't imagine what it's like to live in an area where there are bears.
ReplyDeleteI can see that Jo :) and it certainly does. I would like to see how large those moths can be. Fortunately it’s a rare thing these sightings of bears, not like in some parts of the country. In Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, they say there are about 300 to 500 bears.
DeleteGlad that some natural history piquedyour curiosity, Denise.
ReplyDeleteThank you David and right on my front door too! :)
DeleteGood job spotting that caterpillar. I'm glad your eyesight has improved.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann, eyesight is still the same with double vision, but those prism glasses bring me into a single focus. It’s a very interesting process to get that done. I am very grateful that there is such a thing :)
DeleteI have seen a leopard moth on rare occasion here in Ohio but I don't think I've ever seen the caterpillar. Your collage at the end of your post is very cheerful and fun. I so enjoy reading.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you are :) I have never seen the moth and this is the first time I have seen the caterpillar. I was quite chuffed! Thank you so much Lynn and Precious. Makes me very happy you enjoyed the collage. I had fun putting it together.
DeleteThat leopard moth is really cool!
ReplyDeleteVery cool Val, reaffirms to me that nature can be absolutely marvelous :)
DeleteWe have spiders that live in our rearview outside mirrors, This has been going on for years. They build webs and occasionally come out for sustenance when we are driving as they hang on for dear life.
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating John, now that must be a very interesting sight :)
DeleteDear Denise :)
ReplyDeleteAfter a Google glitch whitch prevented me from visiting, it's now been corrected and I am now able to visit you. I'm glad your vision is on the ball and you saw the dark shape on your door- The moth is beautiful, the caterpillar not so much, but I hope it finds a good place for you to see it pupate and see the moth emerge
All the best
Sonjia..
Hello Dear Sonjia :) There are many glitches that seem to be happening. I have trouble loading photos at times, and getting into my reading list. Hopefully the necessary fixes will take place. I am very happy you can visit me again. Thank you for your kind words. I hope all goes well with you. All the best, Denise.
DeleteThat caterpillar looks pretty scary...I wouldn't touch it at all. I am so happy that your eyesight has got better, Denise.
ReplyDeleteHopefully it gives him a good advantage when its predators come calling. Thank you Angie, and thank goodness for prism glasses and to the person who invented the technology.
DeleteThe moth is kind of spooky! Having a bear roaming about is slightly disturbing. Hopefully it will move on and find a place to winter.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra :) and it was big! Very noticeable from a distance. Yes on the bear.
DeleteSuch an interesting hairy creature. Looks like you saw a great variety of things on your outing. Take care...
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellen, we certainly did :)
DeleteYAY I like to Leopard Moth and your collage!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs cecilia
That’s great! Thank you so much Cecilia :) Hugs, Denise.
DeleteGąsienica jest naprawdę niezwykła mogłaby być dekoracją na nadchodzacy Halloween:) Mìłego tygodnia życzę 😊
ReplyDeleteDziękuję, zgadzam się :) Bardzo doceniam Twój komentarz i życzę Ci udanej dalszej części tygodnia.
DeleteI'm thinking the bears are hibernating by now here so I hung my feeders. I could be wrong. The finches are mobbing the feeders and probably would scare off a bear if it tried to horn in.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info Marcia. I expect farther north everything takes place earlier.
DeleteA very hairy caterpillar.
ReplyDeleteThat is so good the prism glasses have been so helpful for you.
All the best Jan
PS Liked the peek preview you shared in the last collage of pictures.
Thank you Jan and I appreciate your kindness very much. I am in the middle of putting the post on the sneak preview in between catching up on my comments :) All the best to you too. Denise
DeleteLindas orugas. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteMe alegra que pienses eso. Gracias :)
DeleteHi Denise wow! I loved your picture, I sure would have loved to see that. We had a bear siting at the park across the street from our property about 5 years ago. Since they have cleared out so many of the woods around the area for subdivisions, there have been no more sitings. We also once had a panther that was attacking the cows in the area. I didn't realize that there were panthers in Georgia until I moved here. They are really more like what most people would call mountain lions, but since we have no mountains in the low country I guess they went with "panthers" :). We also have huge wild boar that live in the woods and sometimes come out and rut around our back meadow area. There are deer, but not near as many as there once were as many were struck down by a horrible disease. It was so sad. There are also foxes from time to time and lots and lots of fruit bats. I love them but they freak my MIL out, so I call them "night birds". :). Have a lovely evening ahead!
ReplyDeleteHello Delisa, so glad you enjoyed. Thank you for your interesting stories of these animals in your area. I didn’t realize there were panthers in Georgia either. Wild boar also? My goodness! We have lots of foxes in the area but no fruit bats. I love your MIL’S name for them. They would be fascinating to observe. We have had the same problem with our deer. I miss seeing them. You have a lovely evening also :)
DeleteWhat a wonderful discovery right by your front door. That caterpillar certainly looks dramatic, especially for the Halloween season. I'm glad your prism glasses are helping you enjoy all these little moments in nature. Hopefully the young bear finds a safe place to spend the winter.
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly Veronica Lee, it’s lovely to be able to focus properly again :) and it was a lovely caterpillar completely fitting for Halloween. I also hope the young bear has found his safe haven :)
DeleteThat moth is quite handsome, and its caterpillar is something else. I thought it was a wooly bear caterpillar with no brown on it. I haven't seen many caterpillars this year. have you? And that traffic not he way home didn't look fun. Hope it was a great Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a wooly bear at first Erika. No, this was the first caterpillar I have seen this year but I haven’t really gone searching for them. Rush hour is never fun and it has been a long time since we got caught up in it. We usually avoid these times :) It was a great Wednesday thanks, hope yours was too.
DeleteYou find and share the most interesting things. Hope you are safe with that bear. Also, I love how you made that picture collage.
ReplyDeleteThat’s so nice of you to say Sandie, very happy you enjoyed them, thank you :) Thanks also for the concern about the bear. He has probably moved on by now. I am checking up on that today.
DeleteOh my, that giant leopard moth is interesting, Denise, and kind of scray looking. Be careful of the bear that has been roaming your area. We have bears up here in the mountains too, so I try not to leave any garbage out in view. October is coming to an end, and it's such a pleasant month. Enjoy the last few days, Denise.
ReplyDeleteI thought so too Sheri. I will, I think he has moved on now. Do you ever see them? I always miss October when it leaves. You enjoy these last few days too :)
DeleteWell spotted.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen one of those black giant leopard moth caterpillars, nor have I ever seen a leopard moth. Interesting picture of one you found. I would never have guessed it was a moth if you had not identified it as such.
You got great pictures.
Thank you Sandra, I appreciate that :) I have never seen them before either. I am still learning about insects.
DeleteWell done for spotting the caterpiller. It is a real beauty.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we don't have bears wandering our neighbourhood though.