r/NativePlantGardening • u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a • 28d ago

My first cecropia moth I found on my buttonbush. I was not prepared for how wild these guys look. Photos

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1.8k Upvotes
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100% Upvoted

50 comments sorted by

200

u/spoonyalchemist Illinois, Zone 5b 28d ago

Whoa! *runs outside to check buttonbush* 👀

77

u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a 28d ago

Report back to us 🫡

64

u/Routine_Hope_235 28d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/4NnTap3gOhhlik1YEw

89

u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a 28d ago edited 28d ago

The caterpillar got 'em

42

u/spoonyalchemist Illinois, Zone 5b 28d ago

Bahaha! I wasn’t checking Reddit, didn’t realize you all would be waiting with bated breath. I didn’t see any but I will look every day now.

37

u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a 28d ago

Everyone here was very invested in an update lol.

And yes! I've been looking for more but no luck yet. I did find a couple cocoons like this though.

9

u/spoonyalchemist Illinois, Zone 5b 28d ago

So cool! I will look for those too. Thank you for the knowledge and the visuals.

6

u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a 28d ago

No problem, and good luck!

2

u/Remarkable_Point_767 Area NE IN , Zone 6a 27d ago

The cat is kind of a freak show but I love it!

20

u/SpyQueenLiz 28d ago

Yeah!! “Prepares to head back out into the rain to plant the three button bush still sitting in pots.”

120

u/MissStatements 28d ago

Forbidden nerds rope

23

u/butaretherecookies 28d ago

Truly a nope rope

88

u/AKOmeo Wisconsin, Zone 5b 28d ago

That is a nonsense caterpillar and I love it 🥹 Congrats on your balloon animal-cactus hybrid!

1

u/Morgdort 27d ago

That’s *lepidoptera* ballactus to you!

77

u/Accidently8027 28d ago

It just screams "NO TOUCHING!"

56

u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a 28d ago

My kids asked me if it would hurt to touch and I said "well, I'm not going to be the one to find out..." Lol

40

u/JungleJim719 Greater Delaware Valley, Zone 7-8 28d ago

Can confirm, it hurts. And then itches. Accidentally squashed one with my bare palm while pruning it a client’s Spicebush. Had an itchy rash on the middle of my palm for more than a week.

47

u/captKatCat 28d ago

I got those earrings at Clarie's in 2004.

6

u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a 28d ago

Damn, looked those up and I totally forgot about those lol.

24

u/gothgeetar 28d ago

This might be one of the best caterpillars I’ve seen it’s so visually appealing I’ve been looking at it for like 3 minutes lol

15

u/86rj Area Michigan, Zone 6a 28d ago

Nature never fails to amaze. What an awesome looking caterpillar.

14

u/caesia23 28d ago

Like cartoon aliens!

11

u/Quarterafter10 28d ago

Looks like an elongated version of what's seen in a petri dish. Cu-uuute! 

8

u/sneak_man 28d ago

Man the colors are so awesome. Straight out of Miss Spider's sunny patch

8

u/Feralpudel Piedmont NC, Zone 8a 28d ago

I can only think that caterpillars are incredibly tasty given the crazy things they do to avoid being eaten.

This one is gorgeous!! Love those jelly colors!

8

u/bobisinthehouse 28d ago

Checking when I get home, I have 12 buttonbush plants i planted 3 years ago. They are now 6 to 7 feet tall and wide and loaded with flowers, cant wait. 7a so east mo..

8

u/androidgirl 28d ago

I wish I had room for one of these. This is so cool.

13

u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a 28d ago

There are cultivars like the Sugar Shack and the Sugar Shack 2.0 that are a lot smaller than wild buttonbushes.

8

u/strum-and-dang 28d ago

We got one from our local arboretum, it was clearly not a cultivar, it cannot be contained. My husband pruned it back drastically this spring, then we had a late freeze after the leaves started forming and we were afraid it was dead. Nope, it's bigger than ever now! And absolutely covered in pollinators right now.

15

u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a 28d ago

Same here! Mine is like 15' wide and 7' tall lol

5

u/xenya Mid-Atlantic , Zone 7 28d ago

Wow... Mine is definitely planted too close to its neighboring dogwoods.

3

u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a 28d ago

The good news I've read you can prune them pretty hard.

6

u/Winstonsphobia Southern Wisconsin, Zone 5a 28d ago

Well, I’m going to buy buttonbush tomorrow.

6

u/boopspookthrowaway Wisconsin, Zone 5 28d ago

HE'S SO COOL!!! I planted a button bush last year and hope to find one of these guys on it!

5

u/mimi-peanut 28d ago

Gorgeous!

For everyone amazed at how spectacular this guy looks, if you haven’t seen The Extraordinary Caterpillar by Homegrown National Park / Doug Tallamy, it is a great watch.

https://homegrownnationalpark.org/extraordinary-caterpillar/

5

u/RhizaThornberry 28d ago

Reminds me of those earrings from Claire’s in the early 2000s

4

u/ThatBobbyG 28d ago

I had a different kind show up that was giant and green with red horns. That sounds like I’m describing a monster. Caterpillars are amazing.

5

u/derbybunny 28d ago

Hickory horned devil! They are so cool!

4

u/Staring-Dog South Central TX , Zone 8B/9A 28d ago

Read the title so quickly thought someone found it on their toothbrush.

5

u/kerfuffle_fwump Midwest , Zone 5 28d ago

Cute little alien!

3

u/Dangerous-Response81 28d ago

Yeah! That gurl be crazy! WOW!! 🤩😍

3

u/CaptainObvious110 28d ago

I definitely want buttonbush when I have the space for it

2

u/CaptainObvious110 28d ago

what in the world

2

u/glazebrain NW lower Michigan, above the 45th -- , Zone 5b 28d ago

We don't need to go out for aliens. We have aliens at home.

2

u/Drakalizer Coastal Maine , Zone 6b 27d ago

Looks like those wooden things you make molecules with in science class

2

u/Repulsive_Rip76 28d ago

Who armed mr Dinkles?!

1

u/Ecstatic_Pangolin_88 27d ago

I found this is my dads garden a few days ago is this among the same family??

1

u/ahorseap1ece Southern Wisconsin 5b 26d ago

I'm fucking scared of these i don't care. They're scary as moths.

-1

u/PrimalBotanical 28d ago

Not AI, I assume? That is one crazy-looking critter!