13. Erbessa salvini (family Notodontidae, subfamily Dioptinae)

The caterpillars of this moth have long extensions, derived from their tailmost pair of prolegs, that stick up in the air and resemble antennae.  Adult moths and butterflies have antennae but caterpillars don't.  They wiggle these extensions around, perhaps to mimic the behavior of another very urticating caterpillar or perhaps to divert a predator to strike at the wrong end.  See the caterpillars here; you may need to click the boxed-in arrow to the upper right to scroll across the columns.

The records of all 37 Erbessa salvini raised by the ACG caterpillar inventory can be played with in this Fusion Table.

This page is a complement to http://www.ontariogenomics.ca/outreach/BOLD14