Is This A Caterpillar?

[wontok]

I found this on my pomelo tree this morning. It's bigger than any caterpillar I've seen - must be about 15cm or so. Once I'd realised it was alive I reckoned it was worth a photo. It's holding on with about a dozen stubby little legs and I can't tell which end is the head and which is the tail. Anyone know what it is? I've left it there because it's so amazing but I guess eventually it'll reduce my tree to dry twigs....

Whilst I've got your attention - I also saw a long black snake in the garden this morning - maybe 1.5m long and 7-8cm thick. Enjoying the sun until it saw me and sloped off through the hedge. My wife wants me to go and kill it - I'm not keen....probably not dangerous anyway? .... Don't you agree????

[chinnotes]

Yes, it is a caterpillar, of a family scientifically called Lasiocampidae, the English name for members of this family is lappet moth. There are, however, at least 112 different species of lappet moths known from Thailand and for me it is impossible to say to which species the caterpillar belongs...

Erwin

[wontok]

Thanks Erwin I'd better get it off my tree then - it looks like it could eat most of it by morning!

Wontok