This caterpillar species is one of several that masquerade as bird droppings to avoid being eaten by birds. It's quite ingenious evolution, if you think about it. There are even parts of it that look like undigested seeds!

Here it is sampling different parts of a shrub -- first the leaf and then on to the tender buds.

Neato! The bird poop worm! I've never seen or heard them before, but I like them already. :-) LostAspen · 2008-05-08: 23:00

friend: "you look like shit today" pillar: "thank you" actually, he has the most beautiful little feelers/antennae I ever saw. that's some good shit. JuliaGotz · 2008-05-08: 23:42

The ugly worm rocks :D agaga · 2008-05-09: 06:05

Wow, what a great reminder to be thankful for the way we look...it could be much worse! =P Very cool, though, I always find bugs and caterpillars that disguise as leaves or snake heads or other things that fool predators to be very cool (that is until I accidentally touch them because I don't see them). majikmonkee · 2008-05-09: 08:29

number 5 was added to my favorite ones. As an agronomist I studied all these kinds of insects at all stages, infact Enthomology was probably the most difficult of my 35 exams. But so fascinating, incredible world, that I appreciate now more than when I HAD to study it. great captures, as always, Gretel! budrons · 2008-05-09: 11:00

Ugly indeed. But maybe this is the source of interests or even fascination. Fantastic story :) astrobrojler · 2008-05-09: 13:28

Wow. Very fascinating - I'd never heard of this before! Great captures. ncshutterbug · 2008-05-09: 19:45

Perfect macros!! Gripe · 2008-05-27: 03:37

Tagged: nature caterpillar