ZooWeird 77

A doggerel series about odd or little-known animals.

Stinging rose moth caterpillar. The stinging rose moth is endemic to North American forests, occurring from New York to Florida, west to Missouri and Texas. Despite its widespread distribution, the species is considered to be rare due to the low numbers of reported sightings. Fully-grown caterpillars range from 3/4 to 7/8 inch long, with the basic color being yellow, orange, or red. Their body features pairs of long, horn-like, bristly spines and clumps of smaller spines. During this stage, the species is easily distinguished by the characteristic broad purplish stripe that runs down the midline of the back. Within the stripe are narrow whitish lines that are sometimes interrupted by constrictions in the stripe. Red, white, orange and purple lines may occur along the sides. Adults (moths) have a body featuring combinations of green, brown and yellow. The wingspan is 2.3 to 3.0 cm. Adults begin to appear early in the summer, and females lay their eggs in July.The eggs hatch usually nine days later and the larvae tends to hide on the undersides of leaves. They mature around mid-September and they winter as pupa inside a cocoon. (All animal info from http://www.strangeanimals.info/2014/12/stinging-rose-moth-caterpillar.html#ixzz4YhFyHaE0)

He grows into a lovely moth—

His colors like a frantic froth

Concocted by an artist wired

Who was by Art itself inspired.

As caterpillar—he’s a beaut,

As well. Yes, very, very cute.

Though I, of course, am really not

Declaring that an insect’s hot!

(Too weird.)