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Black caterpillar with bright red head and legs, and yellow spots (Azalea caterpillar)

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Thank you, Moni.
by: M B Barnett

You have done it again. Amazing. For some reason, although we live in azalea country, I had never observed this caterpillar before. Your identification of the azalea caterpillar is very helpful, and very much appreciated. Thank you.

Azalea caterpillar
by: Moni

Michael
Your caterpillar is the Azalea moth caterpillar also called the Azalea caterpillar while the moth is sometimes called Major datana.
The caterpillars are very distinctive with those red legs!
You are probably pruning azalea hedges since that is the primary food for this insect, tho they have been found eating apple, red oak and bog rosemary.
This insect is found in moist boggy or swampy areas in southeastern US from MD to FL then west to AR and KS.

Here are photos of the moth and caterpillars -
http://bugguide.net/node/view/26425/bgimage

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