unusual caterpillar

[Anne Kilmer]

A friend of mine, Julius Boos, a fancier of tropical butterflies,
reports seeing a caterpillar he did not recognize. 
	It was in Lantana Florida (near Palm Beach). The larva wss eating a
tupelo leaf, and had carved down the sides in curves, leaving the
mid-rib (as the Ruddy Daggerwing does). 
	Julius says it looked like a nymphalid, and held itself like a Preponid
caterpillar. The rear end was raised, with the claspers free of the
leaf.  The caterpillar strongly resembled a dried and curled tupelo
leaf. The head was dark brown; the neck dark green, and the rest of the
body a paler brown, mottled. Even after being told the caterpillar was
there, he had a hard time spotting it ... and this is his skill. 
Yes, I asked why he didn't take it and rear it out. He said it was the
only one, but that he's going back tomorrow and sleeve it. If it's still
there. 
	There are various collectors around, and we're not that far from
Butterfly World, so it could be anything ... 
Any ideas?
Anne Kilmer
South Florida