Hawkmoth Caterpillar (Sphingidae) : Snake head mimicry

Newsgroups: alt.binaries.pictures.artpics,alt.binaries.pictures.animals
Subject: Gone Buggy - #1 - Hawkmoth Caterpillar
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 05:24:29 GMT

>From a National Geographic Young Explorers book, "How Animals Behave."

filename="bs-nat-Hawkmoth Caterpillar-hab-ngs.jpg"

"This is not the head of a snake but the tail of a caterpillar! In a moment of danger, the caterpillar puffs up its tail which is designed to look exactly like a snake's head and intimidates its enemies."

"The back of the hawk moth caterpillar actually looks like a snake's head. This is a frightening vision for most predators the moth would normally face. Mimicry is a different approach than ordinary camouflage, but it works toward the same outcome. By developing a certain appearance, an animal species makes itself a harder target for predators. In different areas around the world, you'll see all sorts of variations and combinations on the basic elements of camouflage. As animal species evolve, they become more and more in tune with their environment. Often, these sorts of adaptations are more effective survival tools than the sharpest teeth, claws and beaks could ever be. After all, being entirely overlooked by a predator is much better than having to put up a fight."

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Comments
Guest
I thought that the hawkmoth swelled its thorax when provoked. I can see the legs and head on top of the "snake's" forehead~
Guest
cool
Guest
cool
Guest
I found one of these on my fig tree. Talk about creepy, they didn't mention it has a forked tongue that comes in and out also, therefore, I believe it is the front of the insect.
PENIS
it isnt its back ITS HEAD AND THORAX YOU CAN SEE ITS FRONT LEGS AND HEAD SWOLEEN UP LMAO!!
PENIS
it isnt its back ITS HEAD AND THORAX YOU CAN SEE ITS FRONT LEGS AND HEAD SWOLEEN UP LMAO!!
insectlvr
I found one too. It was in my satsuma tree. I am in Louisana and I called my local college and the professor I talked to told me to put it in a cold place and it would pupate. So I did and it did! I have pictures of every stage and it is awesome. BTW the forked tounge also spits and smells really bad. The prof said they are from south america and pretty rare here. Now I am just waiting to see what it becomes.
Guest
I found one yesterday or very similar. Actually 2 of them including the forked tongue. I also found them on a satsuma tree. I have other citrus including lime, lemon, grapefruit, and orange. I did not find them on the other citrus
guest
i found one on my satsuma tree here in mobile,alabama, it really looks like a snake when it licks it's tongue out
lizzy
Brownsville TX. I found two similar to the one in the photo brownish in apperance .. resembling a ratylesnake. They were actually in a citrus tree and wasent able to find anything sbout them until i typed snake like characteristics.. anyways its a great oportunity to show me daughter the great old circle of life for these creatures...
diane
We found one on a blueberry bush in Grand Haven Michigan! I've never seen one of these before. We saw the tongue stick out too but only when we pressed on it lightly.

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