Would you touch this caterpillar? It's the larval form of the Gulf Fritillary butterfly. Although they may look a bit gnarly, they don't sting. Their black spines are soft to the touch and are there to scare off predators.

I moved this caterpillar from a Luffa plant to its host plant, passion fruit vine (Passiflora incarnata). There are too many to count on this one passion vine! Now this little guy can get fat and happy and will turn into a butterfly soon. 🦋

#grownostr #permaculture #homesteading