This evening after work I returned to the site of yesterday’s adventures with the creature that I think is a bagworm caterpillar. Despite some heavy rain last night his sticks-and-silk abode was intact. I stood and waited, wondering if he would reappear.
After just a few minutes of waiting I watched as the bag started to shake and the caterpillar began to emerge from the bag. Unlike last night when he seemed a little coy, tonight he seemed to have shed all inhibitions (or was really hungry).
He rather quickly extended himself more than halfway out of the bag and began to chew on the lavender blossoms. That answered one of my questions from my last posting about whether lavender was a suitable host plant for a bag worm.
I managed to shoot him from a number of different angles to show some details of the caterpillar and the opening in the bag. I think that a couple of my shots captured the texture of the bag. My shooting time was really limited because after his brief snack the caterpillar returned to the comfortable confines of his sleeping bag.
I am sure that I will move on to other subjects eventually, but for the moment I remain utterly fascinated with my creature on the lavender plant. We are developing a relationship but I have not given him a pet name, at least not yet.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Great photos Mike. Are you using a macro lens for these? Or your telephoto lens?
Thanks for your interest, Sue. Today’s photos were done with the 18-55mm zoom for my Canon Rebel XT (yesterday’s were with a 55-250mm zoom lens). Somehow it seemed a little easier to get in closer today with a shorter lens (the lens lets me get in as close as .9 ft (.28 m). Some cropping was required, but not too much. Mostly it was about framing the subject better.
Closer and closer–good stuff, Mike. Keep it up!
That is one of the coolest, wickedest-looking caterpillars I have ever seen.
Great shots, Mike! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve seen those hanging from trees and wondered what lived in them! Cool photos 🙂
Glad you liked the photos. Until I saw the caterpillar emerging the first time I too had no idea what they were.
Everything about this bug is strange-including his looks1
That is so cool! Good for you to pay attention and have the patience to work the scene.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Mel. You just happened to hit on a couple of things that I really am trying to work on, both of which are the antithesis of point-and-shoot.
Those are some crazy pictures!!! You captured life-like detail in nightmarish accuracy…. ooh… I want to look away, but I keep staring. I usually love bugs, but this one is creepy.
Sorry…no, not really. The detail are very graphic for this unusual bug, but the subject definitely is not what I would call “beautiful.” I think the word “creepy” that you used is appropriate.
just because I like bugs too… here are some of mine, my tribute post to you: http://anotherperspectivephotography.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=598&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2. They are not nearly as lovely as yours. I specialize in babies and toddlers and brides- bugs are just a sideline. I haven’t found a bug yet willing to pay for his portrait to be taken.
I was at a wedding last weekend and I commend anyone that tries to shoot them. There are so many variables (like the weather) and so much pressure. Bugs are much less demanding, even though they won’t pay you for a portrait. I love your new post and will cross post it if I can figure out how (FYI the link in your message didn’t work).
hmmm… I still haven’t figured out how to link properly here. I’m a photographer not an internet expert!
I used the “reblog” feature and your post is now on my page. Hopefully some folks who read my blog will come on over and visit you.
[…] favourite bug pictures, inspired by Mike Powell – especially of his amazing pictures of the scary creepy creature on his lavendar plant. Mine are not NEARLY as technically perfect- some of them were just spontaneous- “quick get […]
Gorgeous pictures! I actually have one of these little guys in one of my palms in my balcony. It sealed shut about 2 weeks ago…and I was wondering if there is a way of telling now if it’s a boy or a girl. I know the males are the ones that fly out and the females stay and lay eggs. Or do I have to wait until something emerges from there? Here’s a pic. We’ve named her Francisca….but not sure if we’re going to have to change the name later on.
Wow. I am not sure if your “friend” is the same as mine, but it’s a cool shot that you have. It’ll be interesting to hear what emerges from yours. Mine disappeared a few days after I took the pictures. I don’t know if a bird got it or what. Thanks for checking out my photos.
[…] this year I took a lot of photos of flowers and insects there, including one of my most popular postings on a mysterious creature on the lavender […]
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