Another alien invader. A Hawk Moth Caterpillar. I grew quite attached to this little guy after hanging out together for 5 or 10 minutes. Felt the need to escort it to safety just in case the Butcherbirds spotted it.
There are an estimated 850 species of Hawk Moth world wide, with the highest diversity occurring in wet tropical regions. Australia has 65 species. The larvae (caterpillars) are large and often colourful, usually with a long horn near the end of the body. Many have lateral stripes and/or large eye spots on the thorax and abdominal segments. The colour patterns help to camouflage the caterpillars and the large eye spots may assist in warding off predators. The caterpillars don't bite or sting but may regurgitate green fluid (from a previous meal) if annoyed. ~ www.australianmuseum.net.au
I love seeing the creatures close up. I know that sounds a bit obvious but to know that the moment is in time in a real place where I’ve been somehow gives me the presentness of them as opposed to the empty space of the thousands of creatures killed in the fires. I do not know how the universe began, nor life.....i think I’d better stop there!