I bet most people are familiar with the spotted oleander caterpillar moth, because it is brightly colored and active during the day. It’s actually a mimic of the tarantula hawk wasp (Pepsis rubra) posted yesterday. You may have also seen its hairy, bright-orange caterpillars on oleander plants. They are orange to warn potential predators that they have acquired toxins from the oleander and are not good to eat.
Although this species is native to the Caribbean, I have heard from some folks that it wasn’t here until the last 20 years or so. Do any long-time St. Martiners remember whether they are a recent arrival?
Thank you!! I saw one of these fellows over on Saint Thomas and have been driving myself crazy trying to figure out what it was. (As you might imagine, most Google searches for “virgin islands insects” bring back results consisting wholly of “there are mosquitoes; bring bug spray.”)
I work in a greenhouse where we get plants shipped in all the time and I see my one today. Gotta admit it scared the crap outta me! Never seen anything like it in Texas before.