My daughter Lindsey has a sweet heart and fostered this chubby caterpillar in her San Antonio home during the recent freezing temperatures. We decided that it's a western polyphemus caterpillar (Antheraea culea). What I found fascinating is that this species hosts on oak leaves. Those are tough leaves! Below you'll see the videos she captured of the caterpillar gnawing on some.
Her find also solves a mystery for me. In the past, I've found large frass (poop) scattered across our back patio under our live oak limbs. The pieces look like this one. I knew they had to come from caterpillars WAY up high on the leaves, but I have never come across one to confirm what kind. So my frassy friends may be this species? Maybe someday one will visit me like Lindsey's friend did.
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