I forgot to mention this is an extreme close-up - it's less than an inch long. Also, the colors are a lot brighter but my camera stinks for color. Neon green in the middle, rings of bright white, lavender in parts, hairs a bright neon peach, two white "eyes" on its rump.

Rizzir, those are Saddleback caterpillars (Sibine stimulea). I got up real close and personal with one a few weeks back on my Canna Australia. Stung me on the neck 3 times before I realized what was happening, thought it was a leaf poking me. It'll give you big welts and it burns like heck for about an hour. Some people have different reactions if sensitive to insect bites in general. Seven kills those suckers instantly.

Here is a site that shows good pics.

Rebecca

Here is a link that might be useful: More info

Would you believe I handled this little guy a LOT trying to get this pic, and I didn't get stung at all? Geez am I lucky today - in an unrelated incident last night, I singed my left eyebrow and eyelashes in an unfortunate gas grill episode - I'm really lucky I didn't singe my cornea. Now this!

Since I didn't know what he was, I put him back on my cannas. Oops.

Rizzir, I found another one of our little friends on a canna today. And, this one is HUGE!

{{gwi:62287}}

Rebecca

Wow, Rebecca, you really captured his colors well! My camera really stinks for color, I've decided. What did you use?

-Regina

Wow - - what a great picture!

This was the first time I was able to capture a close pic and have it come out. He was easy because he was so big, about as big around as my thumb! I first spotted him this morning and by this afternoon, he had doubled in size! I jabbed him with a stick once I knew I had a clear picture of him. :)

The camera I am using is a Nikon Coolpix 995 on loan from my MIL. These days you can get a really nice camera for a very reasonable price.

Rebecca

Beautiful Picture Rebecca. Yep Rizzir, growing up picking corn with mom, she would always warn me about the saddlebacks. "You don't want to get one of those on you" she'd say. Be more careful with your grill, you don't want to lose your eyesight and not get to see your beautiful flowers anymore.

Cheryl

Rebecca, really nice shot.
I didn't realize saddlebacks fed on cannas. I'll have to keep an eye on my own cannas -- I've seen lots of photos of saddlebacks, but haven't come across one yet in person. One of my favorite parts of gardening is seeing all the interesting little critters that show up on my plants. :)

Ouch! Makes me cringe a bit just seeing it.

There is another worm we always called "Packsaddles" that is whiteish and generally fuzzy. They will light you up too!

I found a great site called "What's that bug?" run by a couple of biology professors (scroll down to see the categories of bugs on the left side.) I'm sure they'd love your gorgeous caterpillar photos, folks! They are a lot better than many they currently have, and they are always trying to collect the best possible photograph of each insect.

That last one appears to be a Pale Tussock Moth or Banded Tussock Moth, Halysidota tessellaris, according to their site.

I've emailed them to see if they can identify the caterpillars that are eating the Brugmansias.

-Regina