A creepy caterpillar was found in the Tver region

In the Tver region, a caterpillar of the Red book fork-tail was photographed.

In the Tver region, a local resident noticed an unusual insect. He took a picture of the caterpillar and decided to share the pictures in the Vyshny Volochek community on VKontakte.

Netizens were impressed by the terrible appearance of the larva. It shows spikes on the tail, similar to the legs of a tropical praying mantis. The author of the post called the caterpillar "creaky", since it " lifts its tail a la cobra when touched."

As a result, it turned out that the Russian had met a caterpillar of a fork-tailed moth-a very rare and red-book insect. Its color is usually chestnut-gray, the head is framed by a lighter border, and it seems that it is "naked". At those moments when she feels the approach of danger, she lifts up the back of her body-this helps her to scare off the predator.

Similar insect larvae feed on the leaves of birch, poplar, willow or elm. In the period from May to September, they develop, and then turn into a pupa. They are dormant until spring, after which a shaggy butterfly is born from the cocoon.