weird insects

You can see the resemblance, cant you? This is a Megalopyge opercularis, or flannel moth caterpillar. It was spotted by photographer Jeff Cremer and biologist Phil Torres in the Peruvian rainforest. They look furry, and will become a fluffy moth as well, but dont touch it! Its fur is made up of venomous spines that can cause painful swelling that lasts for days.

Evolution doesnt exactly have a lot of common sense, does it? First it decides to make the most colorful and enticing caterpillar on the planet, then it decides to cover the creepycrawly in thorns and lots of them! Found only throughout various parts of Northern Australia, weve heard that this quirky caterpillar, known as Calcarifera ordinate, has a potent sting that is more painful than three simultaneous wasp stings.

Its probably Hemaris thysbe, the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth or Common Clearwing (wingspan 3850 mm), which so closely resembles a hummingbird when feeding that many people never really notice that its a moth hovering over the flowers.The diurnal nature of many of these moths (most moths are nocturnal) and its similarities to the hummingbird in size, foraging behavior, and feeding structures often makes it one of the most common cases of mistaken identity in nature. The Hemaris thysbe moth feeds through a proboscis, a long, strawlike tube kept curled under the head when not in use. Its range includes Alaska and the Northwest Territories south through British Columbia to Oregon, east through the Great Plains and the Great Lakes area to Maine and Newfoundland, and south to Florida and Texas. Central Texas residents know that its range incorporates the Texas Hill Country, especially in the spring.

The Oncopeltus fasciatus is also known as the Large Milweed Bug. But the Darth Maul Bug is way cooler. It feeds mainly on grains, particularly those of the milkweed.

Deilephila elpenor, known as the Elephant Hawkmoth, is a large moth of the Sphingidae family. The species is found throughout Britain and Ireland.The larva is about 75 millimetres (3.0 in) long and is green and brown in color. When startled, the caterpillar draws its trunk into its foremost body segment. This posture resembles a snake with a large head and four large eyelike patches. Caterpillars are preyed upon by birds, but these shy away (at least for some time) from caterpillars in