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Photo and caption by Maureen Keefe

Although this guy may look more at home in the Amazon Rainforest, surprisingly he is the caterpillar of North America's largest native moth, the Cecropia Moth. This caterpillar hatched from its egg small, black and hairy. As the caterpillar ages they molt 4 times. In the 2nd larval instar (developmental stage), the body will be yellow with black tubercles (knobs). This caterpillar is in the 3rd stage of development. When it molts it will be more silvery blue in color and the neon tubercles will fade. The moth is a giant silk moth and the colors are browns, muted reds and white.

Location: Kremmling, Colorado USA