Yesterday I spotted this amazing looking caterpillar alongside a pond at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. I have not yet been able to identify it, but I was really struck by the stunning blue dots and the prickly spikes that run the length of the caterpillar’s body. Often these types of spikes are an indication of a venomous stinging caterpillar, so I kept my distance as I was taking this shot. Click on the image if you want to get a closer look at the wonderful details of the caterpillar.
UPDATE: Several helpful folks have weighed in and have identified this as a Common Buckeye caterpillar (Junonia coenia). Thanks for the help.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Nice Mike! That is one interesting caterpillar! Love the blue dots! Never saw one like that!
Benjamin was totally amazed by the enlarged photo of this caterpillar : “Whoa, this is awesome!” He was disappointed that not knowing what it is meant we could not discover what it will change into. On the previous post of the spiny caterpillar, we were able to find the moth it would become. Benjamin and I had long ago researched the process of metamorphosis and he was fascinated. Ever since that, whether it is a butterfly/moth or a caterpillar, he wants to see what it will become. Should you be able to identify this fabulous specimen, we would love to know! Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
Thanks for the feedback, Ellen. I posted the photo at bugguide.net and hope to get a response from one of the experts there. If I do get a response, I will be sure to let you know what they say it is. I have poked about a bit, but can’t seem to find a match for it.
It looks like this is a Common Buckeye caterpillar. I know that I have featured the Common Buckeye butterfly several times on my blog.
That is one seriously intricate caterpillar.
Amazing detail and colour!
Wonderful find and photograph, Mike!
I’m not an expert, but I believe this is the larva of the Common Buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia).
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Junonia-coenia
Let us know what actual experts think.
It’s beautiful no matter what its name might be!
Wow. Wally. I looked to find photos that looked like the one I photographed and the Common Buckeye ones that you linked to are closer than anything I found. I will let you know if I get a response from the folks at bugguide.net. For what it’s worth, there are plenty of Common Buckeye butterflies at the location where I took the photo.
Wow! Good suggestion to zoom in…. you’ve captured the tiniest details so that these blue dots and stripes and spikes are amazingly vivid. Super image.
Thanks. I have to downsize the images before I post them, but try to still keep them big enough that you can zoom in to see some details, which is especially good when viewing the shots on a small screen.
You really succeeded in showing off this little guy’s best qualities!
Wow.. the blue dots are awesome! Reminds me of a very shiny cobalt-blue top I had long ago, a smooth sweatshirt with long sleeves – a garment much beloved by me!
Thanks, Liz. It’s interesting that you called the color “cobalt-blue,” because that is exactly the same thought that I had.
Cool! 🙂
Beautiful photograph of a beautiful caterpillar.
Thanks, Michael. The caterpillar indeed was striking–a good reminder to me of why I like my macro lens so much.
He is indeed stunning!