Catepillars on my Brownea grandiceps

[miamicuse]

Last year I had some catepillars munching on my Zamia, turned out to be Atala butterflies.

So yesterday I noticed a lot of catepillars gathering and eating the leaves of my Brownea grandiceps.

Is this some kind of butterflies too?

A cluster of them over 20 eating on the leaves.

[Silas_Sancona]

2 minutes ago, miamicuse said:

Last year I had some catepillars munching on my Zamia, turned out to be Atala butterflies.

So yesterday I noticed a lot of catepillars gathering and eating the leaves of my Brownea grandiceps.

Is this some kind of butterflies too?

A cluster of them over 20 eating on the leaves.

Butterfly or Moth sp.. Not sure which until they become adults.  Prickly Caterpillars = Probably not one you want to handle.

[miamicuse]

They changed color and are getting fat.  I can actually hear them eating the leaves.

[Looking Glass]

IO Moth.   Don’t touch these…  Those are stinging spines.  

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/io_moth.htm

[miamicuse]

22 hours ago, Looking Glass said:

IO Moth.   Don’t touch these…  Those are stinging spines.  

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/io_moth.htm

Good to know thanks.  They ate quite a bit of leaves, they better transform soon.