that is so cute. I suppose the eyes are large to make others think it's dangerous. Very cool
Hey, I think it's better than muskrat love...
That is a most fetching little creature, and it does metamorphose into a beautiful one. I'm glad you moved it to safety.
he is so cute and he doesn't look real...
So perfect that before I read the text I thought he must be one of those painted "moisture check" critters you can buy to place in a flower pot!
A beautiful story to go with your photos!
alan
Okay, I gotta say it. He's as cute as a bug.
Seriously, the little guy looks like he's reading your mail. What personality he appears to have just by his expression and the shape of his body.
You're asking *me* if it's crazy to love a caterpillar? (-:
Swallowtail caterpillars are among my favourites -- but actually, I love all large caterpillars. Aren't the false eyes incredible? While they may help to ward off predators, perhaps their chief function is to entrance humans.
That first pic really made me smile! 
Neat trick wioth swallowtail caterpillars: take a blade of grass and poke gently at the head region. The caterpillar will evert a pair pf brightly colored (and strongly scented) horns called osmetera. It's an anti-preditor defense.
The eye spots are also an anti-predator defense. A group I was with saw an easter tiger caterpillar early this summer. It lifted its front end up off of the ground and waved it back and forth. With the eye spots, it looked remarkably like a snake's head.
What a great find and photo! ; )
The eyes remind me of those painted on Tutankhamun's mask.
The first thing I thought of when I saw the pic was - This is a pipe sticking out of the wall with a funny spigot, and what do those marks say that look kinda like eyes.....
Then I read the post
Silly me! what a great caterpillar.
Drive-by post (insanely busy), but I did want to remark that he/she is a remarkably pudgy little thing!
you see things that amaze and astound me, bums!
i love caterpillars too. it's been a great season for butterflies around here, and i marvel at each and every one.
I'm glad sbgypsy saw what I saw. I though I was nuts. Nice post Robin.
he is great! looks like a candidate for cuteoverload!
Awesome! Glad you could help him on his way!
A first for me -- the 'eyes' are great! Lil' fella needs them in order to stay safe and turn into that beautiful butterfly. so glad you could share him with us (well, I'm just assuming it's a him).
Only you, Robin, only you.
Great post.
What gets me is the "expression" on his face. In the second picture, he looks a little surprised, a little worried, a little upset--like a puppy dog trying to work out the mysteries of the universe. Funny, how we project ourselves onto these creatures. Guess I'm just reading myself!
didn't look real to me at first, either. cute little critter.
Why would loving a cute little critter like that be any crazier than loving a beautiful flower, fish, or bird?
I would have guessed one of the swallowtails!! What a great shot of a very interesting caterpillar! BRAVO
Yes, well, as long as you aren't running off with him.
Is it a him?
How can you tell?
That was worth the trip!
When I saw the photo of the engaging caterpillar, I immediately thought of this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C...h?
v=CCz1kmfqL7g
I could picture the caterpillar singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
my first take was that it was Mr. Hanky. But thus is so much better. nature is awesome.
Mr Hanky! I swear this is the first cousin of my buddy from last year in Florida- the one with the big eyes! Remember him? I could, can, do fall in love with these guys.
Cool!
Naw, it's not crazy to love a caterpillar. What a pretty little bug. It's amazing what different patterns they have, depending on what they're going to turn out as.
I love caterpillars, also. I really like the "furry" kind that are black and orange. They look so cute and optimistic when they're crossing the road.
Thanks for posting these!
My daughter and I came across the same adorable creature and were amazed by it's charm - definitely all in the eyes. Thanks for your blog, which solved our curiosity for what this beautiful caterpillar will one day become.
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