Spodoptera litura

This caterpillar was a common sight on today's begonias. Too common in fact. Sad to say, but these caterpillars must be fed to the chooks. 😔

The caterpillars I found were still young, I'm used to seeing the later instars. One thing I've finally noticed, are the eye patterns along the side of the body. This caterpillar has markings on its head too, it curls its head down to look more like a snake.

Cutworms, I've noticed, frequently have patterns like these, on at least one part of the body.

A very small snake in deed...