#macroglossina

The White-brow hawkmoth one step closer to becoming a moth.

Gnathothlibus eras

This particular caterpillar was very photogenic.

Gnathothlibus eras

When I visited the Butterfly vine, the last thing I expected to see was a fat hawk moth caterpillar! Aristolochia praevenosa isn’t the only vine growing on this fence, there’s also an Adenia vine, and something else I don’t know the ID of.

These hawk moth caterpillars were feeding on the unknown vine.

I may not not the name of this specific vine, however these caterpillars feed on a variety of other plants as well.

Gnathothlibus eras

I rarely come across these caterpillars, so finding three on the same plant was incredible!

Gnathothlibus eras

If you aren’t already aware, I like grubs. Something about them just screams charm and cuteness to me. Even the ‘ugliest’ grubs such as maggots are something I find very hard to be repulsed by. Most of the grubs that I find are caterpillars, the larval stage of Lepidopteran insects. Most of the caterpillars I find are quite small, and usually wrap themselves up in leaves, or camouflage themselves seamlessly into their surroundings. Every now and then however, I find a caterpillar that is not exactly the best at hiding.

The fat caterpillar pictured above is Gnathothlibus eras, a some-what elusive find for me, as I only see one about once or twice a year. Everytime he shows up though, it’s truly a sight to behold! This caterpillar is pretty easy to spot, everytime I come across it in the wild, it doesn’t even make an attempt at camouflage. This doesn’t mean the caterpillar is a sitting duck though! Firstly, the bright neon dots along the side of the body are likely there to resemble eyes, usually a good enough warning to scare off certain predators. Further more, when the caterpillar shrinks its neck back into its body (it has a extendable neck, that I sadly did not photograph), two dots on the start of the neck will fold forward, resembling (what is just my own speculation) the eyes of a snake.

Nothing scarier then a snake with glowing eyes! Although this snake is unusually small...

Gnathothlibus eras, “(Aussie) White-brow Hawkmoth” - Lepidoptera