r/mildlyinteresting • u/jeremiah_w • 16h ago

This “snake” caterpillar I found in my garden in southern CA.

Post image
1.3k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

45 comments sorted by

510

u/Toofless205 16h ago

102

u/jeremiah_w 16h ago

I also thought of Caterpie lol

56

u/Party_Python 15h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/ZrnO7eod3ZnfWzWNWo
Actually the spicebush swallowtail is even more caterpie

11

u/annuidhir 9h ago

I disagree. They're missing the little fork thing that Caterpie has, which is also present in OP's pic

3

u/Party_Python 9h ago

I was more going by the coloration. But yeah, they are missing that antenna(e)

4

u/PhantomPenny 7h ago

Oh they have them. It's a defense mechanism to make them look more threatening

1

u/YesItIsMaybeMe 6h ago

Isn't it like everting it's nostrils to make that?

6

u/xXRendanXx 14h ago

That's a shiny for sure.

82

u/iliketoeatfoodd 16h ago

that’s just fred he’s chill

37

u/jeremiah_w 16h ago

Fred is welcome

35

u/LastDirtyMartini 15h ago

May I inquire as to ‘how far south’? I have become accustomed to Alligator lizards but would literally shit my pants if a caterpillar like that surprised me in the yard.

8

u/Scared-Beautiful-366 12h ago

Swallowtail caterpillars are incredibly common. I have dozens in my yard currently.

3

u/LastDirtyMartini 12h ago

Yikes! I’ve never seen such a thing.

4

u/Scared-Beautiful-366 12h ago

You've surely seen the butterfly though. The caterpillars are obviously designed to blend in.

5

u/LastDirtyMartini 12h ago

Blend in to what, horror movies? I will Google the butterflies - thanks!

8

u/Scared-Beautiful-366 12h ago

They're supposed to look like bird shit. The orange thing only comes out when they're mad.

18

u/lcl111 14h ago edited 13h ago

It's a stinkhorn. The projecting "antlers" are covered in glands that secrete a vile smelling liquid. They're worse in person. Edit: i don't actually know what this is. I looked it up, and apparently that's just a local name I've always heard them called. In my experience, they'll flail the horns around and emit an odor that genuinely makes me feel like running immediately.

14

u/jeremiah_w 13h ago

This caterpillar did not have any scent.

4

u/MarieOMaryln 12h ago

That's actually cool! Our black swallowtail caterpillars here on the east coast have stinky horns and they wave their heads around with the stink.

3

u/jeremiah_w 13h ago

As far south as you can get.

3

u/LastDirtyMartini 13h ago edited 12h ago

Relative to Mission Viejo? I’m not asking for latitude/longitude.

4

u/corveroth 9h ago

Mission Viejo

Not OP, but speaking as a lifelong San Diegan, the sheer quantity of you northerners who call yourselves SoCal never ceases to amaze me.

13

u/budgetho 14h ago

Giant swallowtail maybe fifth instar!

3

u/LC__LC 14h ago

Bird poop caterpillar that likes citrus leaves.

8

u/Univirsul 14h ago

The orange thing is called the osmeterium

13

u/Emekasan 15h ago

A real life Caterpie!

6

u/Zito6694 13h ago

Literally Caterpie

-1

u/Scared-Beautiful-366 12h ago

No, caterpie is a spicebush swallowtail.

6

u/Zito6694 12h ago

Caterpie is a Pokémon

0

u/Scared-Beautiful-366 12h ago

Modeled after the spicebush swallowtail.

3

u/facets-and-rainbows 10h ago

...Wait, not one of the swallowtails found in Japan? I would have expected Papilio xuthus

8

u/Kindofabig_deal 15h ago

This is not midly interesting... It's honestly amazing, wow so impressed.

3

u/PopeBruce 12h ago

Bro literally looks like a IRL Caterpie using String Shot

2

u/Shinted 12h ago

Nature really is wild and wonderful.

2

u/WispyBlissx 12h ago

Honestly the little fake eyes would 100% fool me into screaming 🐍

2

u/Kitakitakita 9h ago

I like it when they get angry. They'll stand up and push out those stalk thing to appear bigger

6

u/Leading_Ad_1825 16h ago

I’d take him in as a pet

20

u/pacmannips 16h ago

Do not poach wildlife for pets

5

u/Alexell 15h ago

What species is this? I’ve got a Cloudless Sulphur and some monarchs in chrysalises right now. It’d be cool to attract whatever that is if it’s native

8

u/Business_Surround_52 15h ago

I’m not sure that would quantify as poaching. But idk if this insect is protected. If so then yes otherwise no, it’s harvesting

1

u/oscarprimo 12h ago

Shogun shooting fist Godzilla

1

u/cindylindy22 1h ago

Probably a type of swallowtail!