Saddleback Caterpillar

This has to be the coolest caterpillar I've found. I was actually shooting a hairy little caterpillar, when I spotted the lime green saddle. I knew I had seen a pic in one of my books, but I didn't know the identity.

It's a Saddleback Caterpillar. It will be a Saddleback Moth, which is dark brown.

If you find one of these, be careful. The spines are venomous and can cause lasting pain. Of course, I read this after taking pics! I was holding the branch it was on and it stayed in place. I was very lucky though. The articles I read said areas around the caterpillars can have embedded spines. Yikes!!! :0)

Thank you so much for your kind responses to yesterday's Monarch!!! :0)

[Allison Maltese]

Oh my, that doesn't even look real! Great capture of it. The POV is perfect to see the saddle markings.

[K1W1]

That is so very cool. Great spotting and awesome capture.

[Al Perry]

Great find. I hear they will make you cry if they get you.

[Kay Hodges]

Great Find! You seem to find some very interesting creatures! Love the focus! A Fav!

[J. Voorberg]

yikes....thanks for the warning..hope they don't come to Canada

[Vee]

Unbelievable! Amazing capture! Fav!

[RGHunt]

Stunning, I have never seen one of these. Very lucky find.

[Caz]

Wow, amazing find and capture ! What a bizarre looking creature !

[Samantha]

Wow! This is fantastic! Great find and awesome photo!

[Kim]

Amazing detail. Looks like an alien critter!

[Kerri]

Very very cool

[Anne ❀]

fav for me! very cool indeed!

[Barbara Havrot]

Wow .. never seen anything like this before, and such a bright green! Pity the prey that tries to eat it! FAV!

[Rick Schies]

That is so unique, never before have I seen one like this

[Milanie]

Wow! What fantastic detail on this really unusual caterpillar. A super shot - but glad you didn't get too much closer. That is such a neat find.

[Graham Thresher]

A great find. Fav

[virtualbrownie]

I've never seen anything like that -great shot

[Jens]

Very cool find and capture. Difficult to decide at which end is the head.

[Anja]

What a great looking caterpillar! Thanks for the info too!

[richard saffold]

i thought you put a little vest on him.

[Susan T]

Wow! I've never seen anything like this! I thought you saddled it up too! Great capture!

[Nancy]

that is so cool

[Amrita]

An Amazing capture, like out of a cartoon book....

[Claire]

What an amazing creature, I thought you had edited it, really is a sight to see!

[carol white]

What a strange looking caterpillar,great find!!

[Helen]

wow what a funky looking caterpillar!!

[Kathryn Marshall]

Cool shot of a really cool caterpillar.

[Darlene]

Wow, the detail is amazing and what a cool caterpillar. FAV

[Ian Watts]

This is amazing. it is like a cross between a Despicable Me Minion and a yorkshire terrier with a coat on. Absolute FAV.

[Myrna O'Hara]

holy crap this is super! fav!

[Kalexa]

Amazing!

[Merle Ann]

A amazing photo ! A fav for me :)

[Marloes]

Wow, what a special creature! Great pic!

[Margaret Tryon]

Incredible. Never seen one like. Terrific shot.

[Debbie]

WOW!!!!! this is brilliant

[Françoise]

PP - well done!

[Deana Rae]

Incredible!

[Dawn]

Strangest caterpillar I have ever seen! What a great pic.

[bardejov]

Awesome! fav

[PasadenaRose]

That is WILD!!! I think that if I saw that thing crawling around in my yard, I'd assume the world was coming to an end and we'd all be eaten by mutant caterpillars.
My mouth is just hanging open here. :-o
Never in a million years would I have believed such a caterpillar existed, if I had only been told verbally, and not shown. I did a quick Google search and the photos I've found so far are much darker than yours. I like your light guy better than the dark ones, but I'm glad NONE of them are in Calif. LOL
Fav

[❀ Lynn]

He is so cool!!! I saw it on my iPhone when on holidays...but I don't comment much from that because of data use, etc...what great colours!! Glad you didn't touch him before you found out about the spines...that could've been painful.