For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

You are what you eat

...or so I have heard. In the bush there is this wild pumpkin which grows in most places. They are about 4-6 inches in length and the vines often grow up into the trees.
I am not sure if they are edible to humans but the birds seem to love them too and this is usually one indication that we can eat them. They sometimes come in a more roundish shape like this and go orange when ripe.
What I found interesting was that this caterpillar took on the color of the ripened fruit in order for it to blend in.
A close-up of it but I cannot find it in my book so do not know if it belongs to a moth or a butterfly.

4 comments:

Diane said...

It is amazing how creatures can change colour to suit their surroundings. Great photos. Have a good Sunday Diane

Gaelyn said...

So did you taste it?

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Diane .... you have a great one too. The way insects disguise themselves is amazing.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Definitely NOT Gaelyn. :) The other night they prepared mopani worms here at the lodge. Naturally I did not try them either, LOL!