Inchworm camouflage

Once again, looking for the smoking vine today. Great conditions, no wind at all, but overcast. Just hoping that the smoke process is not heat driven by the sun, I suspect it is though, as there was no smoke to be seen in the absolutely still conditions.

As I was staring at this lifeless plant, I noticed a group of spent, brown flower heads quiver slightly and then again a few seconds later. Thinking that this might be relevant to the smoke thing, I zoomed in for a closer look.

It looked strange, as all the other buds were singular, growing off the stem alongside a couple of leaves. This differed in that it was a row of spent buds apparently on its own stem. At mega macro distance, all was revealed.

The stem of spent buds was actually a very small inchworm, less than half an inch long. Its extremely effective defense was to glue spent buds onto its back, making it almost impossible to spot. Its movement complements its disguise by moving just like a slight breeze had caught it. All the brown bits in the blip are part of this insect. I got very lucky, as I just happened to be staring at the right spot.

You can see the fresh pod that the bug is feeding on and the spent pod stuck on his back, for a good comparison. This is where the smoke is coming from. I wonder if this worm is part of this smoke process!

A bit of research reveals that it is the lavae of the geometer moth Geometridae. This is only a family name, to find the actual species of this specimen is beyond my capabilities.

So, no smoke today, but an interesting find. Back on the hunt for the smoking vine tomorrow, this could take a while.

Dave