It will be a Moth.Most butterfly caterpillars have smooth bodies.But not all moth cats have spikey ones.Lets see if @espyetta concurs. Gorgeous! Great capture!
Wow, Katy! Cool caterpillar! I have not had the pleasure of ever seeing one. It took me some "googling" but I think I have it! A White-marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar. So you were right! a moth! It has these "tufts" or "tussocks" along his back, that in your photo, seem like yellow flat "back" but these are actually tufts of cream colored or white hairs. Here is the link to a good photo of one..... http://insects.about.com/od/photography/ig/Tussock-Moth-Caterpillars/whitemarkedtussmoth.htm
@grammyn Oh hush! It is a great photo of it. It is just that with this particular angle, the "tufts" sticking up are viewed from above....birds' eye view. So you cannot tell that are sticking up all "tufty" like. LOL! I just make a new word. Spell check doesn't like the word "tufty" but "tufty" on it! haha Great pic, Katy!
@mzzhope I didn't know that! interesting that the blander moths have colorful caterpillars and the beautiful butterflies have the simpler caterpillars.
