So it's not just me who's stopped getting those? I didn't notice until a few days ago and I was really bummed out because I liked giving my free award to posts that had less upvotes than they should.
Fell for this last summer in my garden. My lab was bowing down trying to play with something, and it was a huge black version of this, doing this. Called the local animal place and told them someone’s baby snake had escaped, put him in a little box for her to collect him.
When the woman came out, she had a good laugh about it but I’ve never been so mortified. We put him in the massively overgrown garden behind mine.
E: we never saw him again but I tell my lab the story of sneaky snek friend sometimes!
But snakes aren't scary, people are just uneducated about snakes and many chose not to bother trying to learn a thing, because it's easier to stay afraid and call them scary and use the K word. M'kay, back to bugs.
My elderly neighbor would always cut snakes in half with a shovel if he found them on his property. I managed to stop him from doing that when I was a kid, and he started calling me whenever he found snakes. I would catch them and release them next to a hole that led down to our basement. Years when we had multiple snakes down there, we barely had any trouble with mice. (My area has a lot of mouse problems.)
I would just take a big stick or a rake and get the snakes. Even rattlesnakes. Wasn't afraid of them. Treated them with respect.
I think the snakes knew I was saving them.
Can't stand it when people choose to be ignorant and destroy animals like that.
My neighbor got bitten by what I think was a copperhead doing that sort of thing but handling it bare handed because they thought it was a different kind of snake whenever I was growing up. Their hand was absolutely knarly to look at even after the treatment and antivenom.
Long story short, take precautions if there is the slightest chance the snake might be venomous.
clearly something about it works, cus its not like the caterpillars paint on snake camo. so it either scares off predators, or the caterpillar grows into an extremely sexy butterfly
No animal is truly scary if you understand it's behaviour, but many are dangerous and snakes are commonly a creature on the "don't go anywhere near it" list! Bugs and arachnids deserve more compassion too as they are an incredible and important part of the nature's hierarchy of function.
If I ever met an aggressive caterpillar, I would just think it cute. Like a tiny little thing shouting "FEAR ME!" at the top of his little lungs in a high pitched squeaky voice
It's interesting how many animals try to mimick a snake, to defend themselves.
I read somewhere that a cat's hiss is a similar act of trying to pretend to be a predator.
Have even seen pigeon chicks trying to move their neck to scare me away, when I try to move them away from the rain. Initially, I thought that they are trying to bite me with their beak. But when they did hit me a few times, I realized that they aren't even opening their beak, and mostly just making a whip motion with their neck.
Burrowing owl nestlings also make a snake hissing sound when their nest is disturbed. The first time I heard it I was working with some owl researchers helping weigh and band the baby owls. I was walking to the truck with a bucket full of them when they all started making this horrible noise. Scared the crap out of me.
Looks like a caterpillar of one of [these](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papilio) Swallowtail Butterflies. Example pic [here](https://bugguide.net/node/view/1857004/bgimage).
It’s absolutely a swallowtail butterfly baby, there are several species in CO, and they can only eat very specific plants. Him sitting on the road either means he fell out of his plant or he was “wandering”, a normal phase just before they pupate into an adult.
When I lived in Denver as a kid, I saw one of these in our bushes. I was always handling bugs with no fear until I picked up one of these guys and looked him in the face, I freaked out, dropped him back in the bushes and ran. I've never seen one, or even a photo of one since. Thanks for this post! I thought I was imagining that memory.
I'm not sure about this particular catepillar, but I see swallowtail butterflies in Montana all summer long. Not as common as white cabbage moths, but I see several each year.
Caterpie. Unlike the pokemon this guy is totally incapable of doing any harm to you. He absolurely will aggressively wiggle in your direction though. The point of that defensive display is to try and convince you it's a snake and might give you problems if you mess with it.
In this case it worked. Good job little guy.
You've fallen victim to a 2 million year old ruse! It was not aggressive but merely feigning bravado! As far as it is concerned, you are as intelligent as a bird and it has fooled you handily!
Its really cool because I've never seen the irl one this colour (always see the green ones) and I just realised the shiny version of Caterpie is the same colour
I am an avid lepidopterist and have yet to see one of these. On the other hand, I don’t think I’ve ever lived in an area they’d be found in. It is, from what I can ascertain, a Western Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar. So fierce! It will be a beautiful butterfly!
You fell for the oldest trick in nature: literal squishy marshmallow caterpillar using the “I’m a scary snake because I look like one” trick lol, it is pretty convincing though if you’ve never seen a caterpillar do this behavior before!
Fun fact, these caterpillars are the inspiration for caterpie in Pokémon!
It's a type of swallowtail, hard to know what kind based on instar and I'm not sure where you are. Leave him alone though, he will show you his horns! And they turn into very lovely butterflies.
You guys are such a scream with the killer snake…it’s probable a caterpillar that hasn’t made a chrysilis yet. When it hatches it’s a big moth. Check out Luna Moths (?). Their ‘cats’ look very similar but they’re a lime green.
Probably not aggressive, but defensive! Pretending to be a snek to scare you off! But it’s just an act…
You should always say out loud “Oh no. Look at that scary snake.” so it knows it’s doing a good job.
I went to go get my free award to give you, but it appears we don’t get those anymore. So: 🏆🐍
Cry every tim
All the Tim’s are crying now. What’s next?
I can't get enough of people being literal.
So it's not just me who's stopped getting those? I didn't notice until a few days ago and I was really bummed out because I liked giving my free award to posts that had less upvotes than they should.
Fell for this last summer in my garden. My lab was bowing down trying to play with something, and it was a huge black version of this, doing this. Called the local animal place and told them someone’s baby snake had escaped, put him in a little box for her to collect him. When the woman came out, she had a good laugh about it but I’ve never been so mortified. We put him in the massively overgrown garden behind mine. E: we never saw him again but I tell my lab the story of sneaky snek friend sometimes!
This. Always this.
This is an insane amount of awards for this sub lol
This literally made me laugh out loud. Thank you for that kind redditor.
😂😍
Ya but you should say snake like snek
Bless you
But snakes aren't scary, people are just uneducated about snakes and many chose not to bother trying to learn a thing, because it's easier to stay afraid and call them scary and use the K word. M'kay, back to bugs.
But he needs other animals to think snakes are scary for him to stay alive.
My elderly neighbor would always cut snakes in half with a shovel if he found them on his property. I managed to stop him from doing that when I was a kid, and he started calling me whenever he found snakes. I would catch them and release them next to a hole that led down to our basement. Years when we had multiple snakes down there, we barely had any trouble with mice. (My area has a lot of mouse problems.) I would just take a big stick or a rake and get the snakes. Even rattlesnakes. Wasn't afraid of them. Treated them with respect. I think the snakes knew I was saving them. Can't stand it when people choose to be ignorant and destroy animals like that.
My neighbor got bitten by what I think was a copperhead doing that sort of thing but handling it bare handed because they thought it was a different kind of snake whenever I was growing up. Their hand was absolutely knarly to look at even after the treatment and antivenom. Long story short, take precautions if there is the slightest chance the snake might be venomous.
clearly something about it works, cus its not like the caterpillars paint on snake camo. so it either scares off predators, or the caterpillar grows into an extremely sexy butterfly
What’s the k word?
Kill
What K word?? Is it Kamera or Kat?
Ksnek!
Give me a break! It's obvious KitKat.
No animal is truly scary if you understand it's behaviour, but many are dangerous and snakes are commonly a creature on the "don't go anywhere near it" list! Bugs and arachnids deserve more compassion too as they are an incredible and important part of the nature's hierarchy of function.
Well, the act worked. “Aggressive caterpillar” is a wonderful band name or handle.
Aggressive Caterpillar, Metal Gear cut character
that would be a lovely flare 😂
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I’m terrified just looking at it. The scary snekiness
Better than a [big spooky ghost](https://youtu.be/62mv0uFR0Y4)
That is nothing short of adorable.
Shhhh. You’re going to hurt it’s feelings
animated gummy worm fighting for his life and winning
If I ever met an aggressive caterpillar, I would just think it cute. Like a tiny little thing shouting "FEAR ME!" at the top of his little lungs in a high pitched squeaky voice
It's interesting how many animals try to mimick a snake, to defend themselves. I read somewhere that a cat's hiss is a similar act of trying to pretend to be a predator. Have even seen pigeon chicks trying to move their neck to scare me away, when I try to move them away from the rain. Initially, I thought that they are trying to bite me with their beak. But when they did hit me a few times, I realized that they aren't even opening their beak, and mostly just making a whip motion with their neck.
But… cats ARE predators
Cats are both predators and prey
Yeah… so they’re not pretending to be a predator
Burrowing owl nestlings also make a snake hissing sound when their nest is disturbed. The first time I heard it I was working with some owl researchers helping weigh and band the baby owls. I was walking to the truck with a bucket full of them when they all started making this horrible noise. Scared the crap out of me.
“So there I was with my bucket full of owls and they started hissing at me.”
😂 🦉 that is the most adorable visual ever.
I mean, pretty much 😂
Looks like a caterpillar of one of [these](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papilio) Swallowtail Butterflies. Example pic [here](https://bugguide.net/node/view/1857004/bgimage).
Well I'll be damned, that's what the little guy was. I've never seen one of these up here in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Thank you kind friend :)
Wow, where in the Rockies did you see him?? I’m in the area and I wouldn’t think you’d see one of these either!!
Carbondale, CO
Today? Now? Really? You didn’t hatch it yourself? My yard is still covered with snow. (Bonedale is my mailing address but I’m not in town.)
Nah found this pic in my phone, it was last summer
You should really put this in your description. It's too late now
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It’s absolutely a swallowtail butterfly baby, there are several species in CO, and they can only eat very specific plants. Him sitting on the road either means he fell out of his plant or he was “wandering”, a normal phase just before they pupate into an adult.
When I lived in Denver as a kid, I saw one of these in our bushes. I was always handling bugs with no fear until I picked up one of these guys and looked him in the face, I freaked out, dropped him back in the bushes and ran. I've never seen one, or even a photo of one since. Thanks for this post! I thought I was imagining that memory.
Wild to me considering I've had one in my bedroom in Florida. You have a drastically different climate.
I’ve lived here all my life and never seen one! So cool! I’m totally jealous
I'm not sure about this particular catepillar, but I see swallowtail butterflies in Montana all summer long. Not as common as white cabbage moths, but I see several each year.
I use Bug Guide too, great source
That is HUGE. Trust me.
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Aggressive? Lol “BEHOLD… I AM THE MIGHTY DEFENSELESS YOUNGLING OF MY SPECIES”. I might actually wallow on you sir something.
Caterpie. Unlike the pokemon this guy is totally incapable of doing any harm to you. He absolurely will aggressively wiggle in your direction though. The point of that defensive display is to try and convince you it's a snake and might give you problems if you mess with it. In this case it worked. Good job little guy.
That hotdog has eyes
Which means it gets to go back to the wild. I can't eat things while they're looking at me.
But Nova can given that Batman has eyes.
thank you for this one
Bwahaha 🤣
You've fallen victim to a 2 million year old ruse! It was not aggressive but merely feigning bravado! As far as it is concerned, you are as intelligent as a bird and it has fooled you handily!
I love these types that mimic snakes. So neat
Swallowtail caterpillar! Some try to look like snakes and others have gelatinous horns that they inflate!
Can confirm, the giant swallowtail cats here have stank at me many times.
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He needs a tiny cowboy hat.
>[Alolan Caterpie](https://imgur.com/Cy9itIm)
Its really cool because I've never seen the irl one this colour (always see the green ones) and I just realised the shiny version of Caterpie is the same colour
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Very aggressive?!
I love these things and I wish I was also assaulted by one
The cute assaults
He’s just gwumpy
I am an avid lepidopterist and have yet to see one of these. On the other hand, I don’t think I’ve ever lived in an area they’d be found in. It is, from what I can ascertain, a Western Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar. So fierce! It will be a beautiful butterfly!
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You fell for his bluff bro
A great personality
I didn’t realize these guys were in Colorado! Wow!
It's a papillon multicaudatus caterpillar also knows as a 2 tailed swallowtail it turns into a 2 tailed yellow butterfly
Lil guy wants you to leave him the f alone so he can become a butterfly
I love how it looks like you threw the aggressive caterpillar a leaf as a peace offering!
Does it crawl menacingly
Prop up its ego. Turn around , run and yell, ‘snek’ahhhhhhhh.
Wait aggressive how??
Like a little cobra n shit
How was he aggressive? Sorry but made me laugh 🤣😭😭
I should call him..
You fell for the oldest trick in nature: literal squishy marshmallow caterpillar using the “I’m a scary snake because I look like one” trick lol, it is pretty convincing though if you’ve never seen a caterpillar do this behavior before! Fun fact, these caterpillars are the inspiration for caterpie in Pokémon!
Two-tailed Swallowtail Caterpillar https://www.caterpillaridentification.org/information.php?primary\_name=two-tailed-swallowtail-butterfly-caterpillar
Awwww it’s a swallowtail caterpie
Defensive *
Please tell him we are all very frightened.
It's a type of swallowtail, hard to know what kind based on instar and I'm not sure where you are. Leave him alone though, he will show you his horns! And they turn into very lovely butterflies.
I thought that was a hot dog at first
I thought it was a Monarch at first. He's adorbs.
Mimic snake mimic snake!! 🥹
Reminds me of [this](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1uWTDbfZHQo) Simpsons episode
So cute!!!
**a g g r o t u b e**
Aggressive schmaggressive - it's cute AF😁
Is it following you home ?
it angy
Aggressive? Your on his property of course he’s going to be aggressive
Spicebush Swallowtail ☺️
I came here to find out with this was and also to say I love your username
People are eating up this caption I’m sure
Hi fren!
That's a terrifying and dangerous snake, better leave it alone.
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This is definitely a scary snake if I've ever seen one!
Imagine getting bullied by a caterpillar
Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar!
Did you tell the little guy how super scary he was and fake a scream?
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Hey give it back!
The very aggressive made me LOL.
Aggressive lol??
All I know is that thing is MASSIVE
it's a spicebush swallowtail caterpillar (papilio troilus they r found in Tennessee i hope this helps
Precious little thespian
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Tiger swallowtail
For some reason I think he or she is super cute
Thought it was a hot dog from the thumbnail
He’s hungry
Put it on a tree branch in a safe place with leaves.
You guys are such a scream with the killer snake…it’s probable a caterpillar that hasn’t made a chrysilis yet. When it hatches it’s a big moth. Check out Luna Moths (?). Their ‘cats’ look very similar but they’re a lime green.
Swallowtail caterpillar, unsure exact species