Alien Invaders !!!

[greyphase]

Was checking on a wild apple sapling this morning that I had grafted a Black Limbertwig scion to when I can across this "thing" munching down on a green bud.

I've never seen a caterpillar like this before, but it could have come right from a Star Wars scene :eek::eek:.
After giving it some "internal injures" I turned to go and then spotted another one lower on the tree :mad:.

It received the same injuries as the first one. Anyone know what these things are? Probably turn into some beautiful butterfly or moth but they can't be muchin' down on my apple trees.:mad:

 

[buckvelvet]

Them sumbitches! Star Wars comes out in December, I won't be shocked if they critters are in the new movie. Kill them, kill them all, Genocide!!!

 

[deepsleep]

When I found this one a couple of years ago, I thought someone was playing a joke on me.

 

[jwill1776]

And I thought the tent worms that I get are ugly, my kids would never eat another apple if one of thoose showed up in our backyard.

 

[deepsleep]

Here's another view after I plucked it off the tree. Grey's looks well adapted to blend in so as to avoid predation. This one must look so fake the birds ignore it? Kinda freaked me out!

 

[Rally1148]

Here's another view after I plucked it off the tree. Grey's looks well adapted to blend in so as to avoid predation. This one must look so fake the birds ignore it? Kinda freaked me out!

I know that one is a Cecropia moth.

Greyphase, yours looks like some type of swallowtail.

BOTH are some pretty cool flying critters when they change!

 

[j-bird]

Found this an thought it may be of interest - tells which butterflies come from which caterpillars (with pictures).
http://northernwoodlands.org/articl...ons-which-caterpillar-becomes-which-butterfly

 

[greyphase]

Thanks for the link j-bird very interesting. Didn't see my caterpillar but it probably turns into something neat.