help identifying caterpillar!

[DR. JAMES ADAMS]

> Shulamis,
> 
>  You saw the caterpillar of the Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae. 
> Not only a nice looking caterpillar, but a nice looking butterfly as
> well.  And, as you surmised, quite common in Florida.
> 

	As was suggested, it is possible that you saw the caterpillar of 
Syntomeida epilais, but this is an orange caterpillar with *tufts of 
hair*, not "spikes" as you suggest.  The Gulf Fritillary has the 
"spikes".
	
	James 


Dr. James K. Adams
Dept. of Natural Science and Math
Dalton State College
213 N. College Drive
Dalton, GA  30720
Phone: (706)272-4427; fax: (706)272-2533
U of Michigan's President James Angell's 
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