Even in this day and age, when most people would tell you we’ve seen and experienced almost everything there is to see and experience, the world is genuinely intriguing and full of wonders.
As a global community, we have access to things that our forefathers did not have because of the development of the internet. Consider events that transpire in the day-to-day lives of those who reside on the opposite side of the planet.
We continuously have the chance to discover new things and broaden our own horizons as a result of the mass media’s quick advancement and wisdom exchange. I’ve seen a lot of things online that I never would have seen otherwise, like insects and creatures that genuinely look like they belong somewhere else.
Now, I like to think of myself as reasonably knowledgable when it comes to wildlife, but I have to admit, I instantly thought a photo of a creature that an Australian woman claimed to have spotted in her backyard had to be a fake.
I wasn’t alone, either.
According to accounts, the concerned homeowner in Sydney, Australia, posted a picture of something she had noticed curled up against a hedge on social media and asked followers to help her identify it.
There’s no need to panic since the strange-looking insect—whose pink-and-black eyes give off the impression that a three-year-old kindergarten student smacked them—is supposedly a rather regular sight in that region of the world during this time of year.
Naturally, neither the woman who discovered the specimen above nor a large number of Facebook users who saw her post understood it right away.
The woman enquired, “Does anyone know what this strange little creature is?”
One neighbor retorted in the comments, “I seriously thought you stuck googly eyes on a weirdly shaped stocking.”
Another person said, “That is the cutest thing I have ever seen.”
The species is a type of hawkmoth caterpillar, according to Australian Museum entomologist Andrew Mitchell, who verified this information to Yahoo News Australia.
“This time of year, from late summer to early autumn, is when it is most common, and it is most often found on vines, including grape vines,” he stated.
This species is found in a vast area, extending from the Kimberley region of Western Australia eastward along the coastal strip to Cape York in Queensland, and then south to Sydney.
The insect’s brown appearance, according to accounts, helps it blend in with its surroundings and serves as a warning to predators to stay away from anything that might consider eating it.
Although they don’t bite or sting, the caterpillars may spew green liquid if they feel threatened.
When confronted head-on, certain species can remarkably resemble snakes; they even hiss and lunge at onlookers. “When threatened, they puff up the front of their body, raise it into the air, suck the head in a bit,” Mitchell continued. “But naturally, they are entirely safe.”
Therefore, if you happen to reside in any of the Australian regions indicated above and you spot one of these “googly-eyed” creatures in your yard, don’t freak out!
Have you ever witnessed something like before? Tell us in the comments below.
