Saturday, January 19, 2013

Dangerous Beauties!

 Hinlalayon! This is the local term we call this creature. "Hinlalayon" is a collective term we use for larvae with dangerous spines, and also dangerous to animals that accidentally ingest them while grazing. I've seen this dangerous beauty only for the first time. I learned that this is also included in the group called slug caterpillars, because they move so slowly and the body looks like a slug.

Old folks in our area say that animals like goats die because their mouths and throats get burned upon eating grasses or feeds with live larvae like this. We were able to get this because my sister had burned patches on her arm for accidentally brushing on this creature while getting citrus fruits. She did not stop searching for it on the leaves planning to kill it, but i intervened and instead brought it home to observe. I put it also on small citrus branches with leaves, but it kept on walking looking for something and didn't eat at all for half a day. Getting younger leaves didn't entice it to eat or even nibble. My sister said it is already thin and will soon die. My  mother said i should not allow it to live because it will later produce eggs which will produce more danger! So after getting a lot of photos, I brought it back to the citrus tree, not showing anybody which part of the tree i put it. Actually, i returned it to the fruitless tree, so it wont harm anyone again.

I visited it a few times later, and also the following day, but it did not go far from where i left it. The difference is that it already stopped walking on the live tree. I wonder if it sensed that the branch at home is a dying branch, so it kept on walking to search for a real live branch.

Look at those black minute spines, these makes it very dangerous when touched or ingested. Some species have these spines connected to toxic glands which makes the sting fatal. For this species, the spines can cause dermatitis. Even looking at them make you feel itchy!

on the citrus leaf

I posted it on the FB page for moths and butterfly group here, asked for the ID and someone led me to the Family Limacodidae, Genus Setora. The species is difficult to identify unless an adult that surely emerged from it can be observed. A comparison from the book "moths of Borneo" saying it is from the Philippines,  shows its resemblance to Susica malayana. However, it is safer not to point the species at the moment. So those IDs are temporary at the moment. 

Camera Critters Meme

Windows on Wildlife Blog Carnival



20 comments:

  1. Hi Andrea, right? Thanks for the visit. Soon I will be posting more instructions on how to do things in Photoshop. Right now I am reviewing my photos from last year.

    Wow those bugs are quite interesting. It is amazing how different our environments are.

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  2. It's a rather nasty looking thing with those spines. I got itchy just looking at your photos. I hope your sister's arm is feeling a lot better by now.

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  3. it is beautiful! the spines and all the tiny details are quite interesting. i'm not surprised this slug is dangerous--i noticed that the more beautiful creatures and plants are, the more dangerous they are.:p i'm not sure if it applies to people as well. LOL

    you did a great job here...even saving it from sudden death.:p i was a victim of an itchy worm a few years ago and it cost me trips to the derma and expensive meds.

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  4. Although it is scary and nasty, it is very interesting looking.

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  5. Such a little creature needs some defense!

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  6. A mean and nasty critter at first sight but on closer scrutiny, I can see its beauty in the lime-green and sky-blue stripes. Makes a very nice template for a pyjama material! You are such a kind soul for treating this brutish critter so tenderly.

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  7. Wow, you would think the coloring would be more flamboyant given they are so dangerous to ingest.

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  8. Unusual color and shape -- great captures! :)

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  9. Wow I think it is actually pretty and your photos are incredible! Thanks for all of the details about it. I have never seen one and hope I don't because my cats eat everything that moves.

    Awesome capture Karen!!

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  10. Incredible shots!

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  11. What an interesting little critter. Wonderful captured details!

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  12. Hello Andrea! I haven't seen this type of caterpillar here. Such a strange-looking creature and armed to the teeth as well! Wonderfully captured. I must make it a point to visit you more often. Hope you're having a great day!

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  13. This is so cool! I have never seen anything like it. What a great post!

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  14. My, what a cool looking if troublesome caterpillar!

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  15. Hi Andrea - thanks for sharing info about this fascinating caterpillar; I'm glad you saved it from being killed! Thanks for linking up with Windows on Wildlife this week!

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  16. I don't know if I like this creature, but I do like all the interesting info you looked up for us! Thanks for sharing!

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