Not your usual caterpillar

I've seen these caterpillars before, but I've never really looked at them upclose. I saw this one as I was leaving my mom's house today. She told me it would sting me. She didn't have to worry, I wasn't going to touch it anyway! LOL!

I looked it up when I got home. It's a White-marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar. The moth it turns into is rather plain. They don't sting, but touching the hairs will set off an allergic reaction in some people.

Thank you for your views and kind comments on my pics!!! :0)

[kris]

What a bizarre and beautiful specimen.

[photoite]

absolutly incredible find - you have a fantastic eye

[richard saffold]

that is one wild looking bug!

[Al Perry]

Nice find Carolyn great pic!

[Kerri]

amazing!

[tim williams]

Terrific find , and shot , and an amazing creature !!

[Denise Breimeir]

Fantastic find! I don't think I've ever seen one of these before!

[Sheila]

That is SO COOL!! How fortunate of you to get the opportunity to see it AND take a photo of it!!

[Kim]

oh wow, that is really cool!

[Jennifer C]

fabulous detail and colour

[Don Roos]

Excellent capture

[Rose Humphrey]

EeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeK!

[Rachel Bell]

wow I've never seen anything like it!

[Angie Vega ☮♥ シ]

wow that is amazing...love this find and shot

[Zoe Ferrie]

Great find, lovely detail!

[Rick Schies]

He is quite unique, and quite colorful

[Nikkers]

I want one,, I want one!!!

[Paul Myers]

Oh yeah. Don't touch those things. They are nasty to most people. Sequoia National Park was being hit by those about 10 years ago. One fell off a tree and down my neck. I broke out big time on my neck and chest. Nasty buggers.

[Jason Daniels]

I get a very similar looking guy here... nice shot!

[Rach_who]

That sure is a very impressive don't touch me display. Great shot.

[Terry D]

Amazing creature... Great shot!

[Anne ❀]

awesome shot

[bkb in the city]

What a great capture

[Michelle]

What an unusual looking thing! Great shot and love the light.

[Brad Johnson]

Astounding-looking critter. I love the cotton-ball holders on its back.

[Anna Mae Andrews]

I love your White-marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar. Beautiful shot. Well composed. Clear as a bell. FAV

[carole albrecht]

that is some catapillar - when you magnifiy him/her it looks even more fantastic, well done. - looks like he has all the bells and whistles on.

[Anna Mae Andrews]

P.S. The white looks like a set of teeth!

[Rebecca Briggs]

oh wow, you do find THE most interesting wildlife..x

[Tanya]

Ooo he is too cool. Ive always thought the hairy ones sting.

[Denise]

Oh my goodness...such a fancy caterpillar. Very different. Great eye to capture this .

[Arthur Loosley]

This is amazing! Well spotted and beautifully presented.

[alia_801]

What an amazing outfit he's got! Must be fancy-dress-party time :)

[Geertje K.]

Wow, that's some hairdo! Really cool!

[Michaela (Cala) boniface]

this is a fantastic shot great detail

[Netkonnexion]

Wow! He is a special guy! Wonderful! Great exposure and capture.

[robinwarner]

wow, now that is a cool shot...never ever seen anything like it

[elkehochban]

That's an awesome specimen! I shot my first one a while back, but he wasn't nearly as pretty as this one!

[Beth]

I've never seen one of those. Amazing capture.

[Mary Tjeerdsma]

Clear and crisp photo - great composition! I have never seen anything like it...FAV!

[Louise & Ken]

What a unique-looking little creature! With all that hair to focus on, you certainly got a nice picture!

[Mary]

Wow!! That guy is awesome!! FAV

[Dawn Wilson]

cool - great capture

[joey d.Muli]

Fantabulous----:)

[Brandie]

That is sooooo neat! It's hairs remind me of cat whiskers.

[Alecio]

Stunning clarity and all!

[Christie Hicks]

That is the coolest looking thing! I've never seen one like that. Great find. And your macro focus is amazing.

[Pyrrhula]

Wow , an amezing catterpillar, Wander how the butterfly of it will look like.
great and beautiful capture

[Jane]

WoW how amazing!

[Paula Cook-Farkas]

Just stunning! Fav!

[MaryBeth Dailey]

No, this one reminds me of Cher in her Bob Mackey outfits! FAV!

[Tabbycat]

WT...??!
Jeepers creepers! What the heck are you growing on that there property of yours?

[☯ Sarah ☁]

Wow! That is some caterpillar, I've never seen anything like it.... Amazing shot :)

[Fletcher]

now that is one strange caterpillar

[Kim Suzanne Kelley]

Amazing!!!

[Lasminja]

Carolyn, thank you for sharing all these amazing creatures. :) I never though that something like this lives on this earth. But now I know, and I can appreciate it :) The color tones are very beautiful in this photo as well.

[paula goff]

wow! what a cool caterpillar! great shot of this guy!

[Tammi Burns]

Another great find! Beautiful bug and shot!

[Amy Ecenbarger]

So strange looking! Great find!

[MaryBeth Dailey]

Congrats on this on the PP! Yay!

[Missy]

Wow, funky looking caterpillar, great find!

[Carel Combrink]

very cool caterpillar, great shot

[Mary Tjeerdsma]

Still on PP! Yea!

[Bugik]

My oh my what a great find! Great shot!

[Tara]

My goodness--I see why it's on the popular page. Amazing world we live in. Lovely shot.

[Pam Hawkes]

Wow. Amazing capture of this beauty.

[Nancy Ruder]

Wow, don't know how I missed this earlier. It's like a dentist's lecture about flossing.

[Barbara Pizzo]

Outstanding picture. Don't want to meet it in person, however.

[John E]

Another great tussock!