Observation date: April 17, 2013
Submitted by: sallyatticum
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Warm, dry and sunny, found on a stone wall.
Status: Resident
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: April 17, 2013
Coordinator notes: Another recent sighting of this caterpillar made me do further research into the id, and I feel pretty firm this is Hemileuca grotei, Grote's Buckmoth. The yellowish spines and rust-colored connections between the segments are characteristics the photo shows when enlarged. There are several photos on BAMONA. The caterpillar tends to fall from its foodplant, Texas live oak (and some other oaks), when disturbed. They may also may be searching for a place to pupate at this time of year, which may be the reason for the other sighting as well.
