Connecting to My Inner Lepidopterist
June 6, 2011
I’m hoping this is a good sign that Spring is coming to Northern California.
Deciding to use this picture prompted some butterfly life-cycle research and a search for some tips on how to identify caterpillars. I found a good site that helps you identify the butterfly-to-be by the caterpillar’s characteristics. It’s really cool, but I wasn’t able to find this red, spotted, hairy caterpillar with lashes and/or spikes.
Sorry.
Life of Wry 
July 13, 2011 at 8:48 pm
I follow the folks at the aboretum on Facebook, and lo and behold, this caterpillar shows up on day as their profile picture. I sent them a message inquiring about the critter and got this response: “It’s the pipevine swallowtail caterpillar. You will always see them on the California pipevine plant (Aristolochia californica)”
So there ya go!