more bugs and monsters and eyes and teeth

MYSTERY CATERPILLAR OF THE AMAZON!

family Sphingidae, Manu Biological Station, Peru

Apparently, for years, the identity of this caterpillar has been a mystery. We may be very close to solving the mystery!

People have seen this large gorgeous caterpillar for ages, but have never been able to figure out what it grows/metamorphoses into... what species is it?

Entomologist Gwen Erdosh (Gwentomologist), currently the Volunteer Coordinator at the Manu Biological Station in Madre de Dios, Peru, has collected one, determined its host plant, and got it to pupate!

Luckily, I got to meet the larva before it pupated, and snap a few photos.

Hopefully, we will know soon, and the mystery will be solved!

THE MYSTERY HAS BEEN SOLVED!!!

The mystery caterpillar of the Amazon has been identified!

Gwen Erdosh has successfully raised the caterpillar, and it has fully metamorphosed.

We knew that it was a Sphinx Moth, family Sphingidae, but no on seemed to know what species it was.

This gorgeous caterpillar is the larva of Manduca neglecta!

photographs by Gwen Erdosh (Gwentomologist)

Have a look at some of the ID process on Inaturalist.

Febugary day 7!!

Peanut-headed Lanternfly (Fulgora laternaria) 🥜🪳

Sosxetra grata

Yes, this colorful furry creature is a moth! And one of the most stylish out of the cutworm moths and allies family (Noctuidae) - at least in my opinion!

Found in Latin America with sightings from Mexico all the way down to Rio Grande Do Sol

Previously thought to be monotypic (meaning its the only species in its genus) but some new research proposes a few species within its genus

Described by Francis Walker, hence the name Walker's Moth

Despite looking fuzzy, moth's wings are actually comprised of scales, and in this case, Walker's Moth's fur-like scales help with insulation to maintain temperature

on sunday a pipe burst in the ceiling above my desk (getting sewage water & debris everywhere) and all of my electronics got destroyed, including my computer & tablet. at least $2000 worth of stuff (including my external hard drives with my all my art from the past decade)

thankfully at least my current computer’s hard drive survived. but everything else got wrecked. i’m going to consult an attorney but i don’t know what’s going to happen with my landlords. i do comms fulltime as my only income & i can’t work until i get my computer & tablet replaced

Credits: photo 1, photo 2