Some insect
was stripping bare one of my 'curry leaf' plants for the past few days. The
dark globular droppings on the floor under the branches were growing larger
with every passing day, indicating that the leaves were possibly being devoured
by a caterpillar.
But try as i did, i could not locate it.
And then yesterday morning, i discovered my new Charlie...
Charlie is smooth and hairless and extremely well-camouflaged. I could
spot it only because the plant had become considerably defoliated over the last
few days and Charlie, now a couple of inches in length, was munching away on a
stem stripped bare in the foreground. I have never seen this particular variety
of caterpillar earlier...
I couldn't spot Charlie on the plant last night. Went looking for it this
morning and Charlie was not to be seen. The plant had lost a few additional
leaves overnight, but where was Charlie ?
After some looking around, i discovered it on an adjacent hibiscus plant...
It was dormant and had begun to
pupate. Clutching the stem with its posterior legs, the free-standing anterior
was harnessed by a couple of fine silk threads....
