This tiny caterpillar was found amidst a collection of willow leaves gathered to feed some Viceroy caterpillars. The twin-tailed larvae is a Black-etched Prominent Moth (Cerura scitiscripta) and the tails are not just for show. When disturbed the caterpillar can flail the tails over its body to scare off predators. This species is also reported to be able to spit acid.
These moths are found from Florida west to Texas and north into Canada. Larvae host on willow, poplar and cherry. Adult moths are mostly white with some black marking on the upper wings and have a wingspan of 25-40 mm with females being much larger than males.
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