Prolimacodes badia - Skiff Moth caterpillar

Description :

One of the most unusual caterpillars I've seen around here. I found it on a leaf of a cherry tree and wasn't quite sure at what stage of development it was. Brought it home in a container along with the leaf it was attached to. The next day I noticed the leaf had disappeared. It was a very hungry caterpillar. There was another cherry tree in the yard so it didn't starve. The caterpillar attaches itself to the leaf with the "mouth" being on the underside and when not disturbed it chews away at the leaf. The caterpillar feels very tough and leathery unlike most caterpillars which are comparatively soft.