Fall fashion for caterpillars

Fall is here, and all the fashionable caterpillars are modeling this season's hottest trends.

This trendsetter, a tomato hornworm, is shunning the mundane browns and reds of autumn and sporting a hip little green number. A single spine on the front provides a tasteful, understated statement.

Diagonal stripes are 2010's horizontal stripes!

"I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. Photographer"

Next on the catwalk (in this case, the Kat-walk) is the woolly bear.

Again, stripes are making a strong fashion statement, this time in a slimming and more traditional autumnal brown color.

Last, but certainly not least, we have this strange little fellow:

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Aw, don't be shy! It's just you and me. Well yes, and some spawning salmon, but their eyes are averted and their attention diverted, I assure you.

Such lovely tresses, and three spikes!
Wow!
Ladies and gentlemen we have our fall fashion caterpillar queen!
Or king?

"I'd like to thank the little people, I mean worms, for this great honor..."

UPDATED 10-18-2010 to add that this guy is an Acronicta dactylina, aka a fingered dagger. They are uncommon but widely distributed, feed on alder (the same type of tree we found him in), and are very drab when they eventually become moths.

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