Stick Caterpillar, walks all loopy!

[Bilbo_baggin]

I'm not too sure yet what sort of caterpillar this is, maybe a swallowtailed moth, or a lackey moth, or maybe even a nettle-tap moth, but will endeavor to find out.

Might be the latter, seeing as it was close to nettles, but it was actually on top of a ragwort flower when I found it (was looking for subjects for the still-life I did) and as I disturbed it, the caterpillar changed it's stance with a loop in the middle, into a bolt upright little stick. I assume this is a defence mechanism against birds or something, cos if you don't look like a caterpillar and look more like a little stick, the blue tits will leave you alone!

Anyway, here it is, and it's less than inch from end to end, but it does look kinda alien-esque!


Exif:

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 550D
Lens: 105mm
Image Date: 2010-08-30
Focal Length: 105mm
Aperture: f/11.0
Exposure Time: 0.0056 s (1/180)
ISO equiv: 200
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: Yes (Manual)
Color Space: sRGB
Photographer: Paul Iddon
Copyright: www.pauliddon.co.uk





Paul.

[peterc4]

loks a bit out of place on the flower can see it blending in the rite enviroment, nice capture