Notice the tail-like structure on this sekeletoniser caterpillar. It is actually the head, or I should say many heads.

Each time it moults and grows the caterpillar sheds all its exoskeleton except the head, which remains attached. Over several moults a group of heads appear, and are used as a defensive weapon – giving this species the common name of Mad Hatter Moth (Uraba lugens). You can see a rather gory movie of it’s weapon in action here.

These are relatively common on the Peninsula, so next time you see a skeletoniser caterpillar look closely – but not too closely as those hairs can cause severe skin irritation,

– Article and images by Greg Holland.