This image was originally entitled, "Gregorian Monk at Prayer" and I love it.
These large caterpillars were common in the trees in the apartment complex when I first moved in. The damage they inflicted, however, earned the wrath of management and a regular dose of insecticides.
Eyespots (markings that resemble vertebrate eyes) have evolved many times in Lepidopterans (butterflies and moths). The fact that this adaptation has arisen independently so often in this group indicates the general effectiveness of this anti-predator startle defence.
Taken September 28, 2012.
Home studio
Pu’er, Yunnan, China
(The enforced hiatus from photo-taking due to the predictably unpredictable weather continues, so I intend to continue some reposts though this time of what I consider my favourite twenty images (in no particular order and in batches of five). I have now surpassed 10000 images in my photostream, so have plenty to choose from. Invariably, these will not be images that have been particularly well received on their initial appearance in my photostream, but have significance to me maybe because of the circumstances related to their capture, as images I have a sentimental, nostalgic and/or emotional connection to or perhaps just what I consider to be a good shot.)
see comments for additional view….
Posted by John Horstman (itchydogimages, SINOBUG) on 2014-06-18 13:23:36
Tagged: , insect , macro , itchydogimages , Sinobug , moth , hawk , Lepidoptera , caterpillar , larva , sphinx , China , Sphingidae , eyespots , head , FB-E , green , repost , black , lightbox , top-f25 , top , entomology , top-f50 , FB-S
