19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Camouflage Looper

I was walking around a pollinator garden when I saw what looked like a dead flower petal crawling down a leaf. I looked more closely and realized it wasn’t a flower petal at all but a living thing! These are called camouflage loopers - they are caterpillars that disguise themselves in the debris of whatever they are on. They are common but hard to find due to their excellent ability to camouflage!

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2021
Date Uploaded: 08.2021
Photo Location: None, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS 6D Mark II
Copyright: © Ashton Jordan