07/07/2012 - _MG_6925.jpg photo - Carl Carbone photos at pbase.com

Carl Carbone | all galleries >> Photo-A-Day Galleries >> 5-Year PAD Comparison - 2010-2014 > 07/07/2012 - _MG_6925.jpg

07/07/2012 - _MG_6925.jpg

Amazing!

When dry, these little kernels are about a quarter of the size and rock hard. A little rain revealed
a most interesting pattern in them though. I wonder what in the biology of the subject of my
7/2/2012 PAD causes them to form like this.

other sizes: small medium original auto

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Bob B.		06-Jun-2015 15:31
Carl, This is caterpillar frass (poop!). The ridging pattern is caused by the moist poop moving through the rectum of the caterpillar. The rectum has evaginations to maximize its surface area because it absorbs water from the frass before it, well, poops. These fecal pellets (yet another name for the poop) are relatively dry when pooped out and dry to hard fairly quickly. Water conservation is a pretty large physiological issue for insects. The patterns of these rectal evaginations, as you might suspect, vary between caterpillar species so one can actually determine the species of caterpillar that pooped it out. Really! Probably more than you wanted to know... Best, Bob B.

janescottcumming		09-Jul-2012 02:48
Amazing is right!

Guest		08-Jul-2012 22:25
Nature........ millions of years ahead of us. V

Walter Otto Koenig		08-Jul-2012 16:48
Fascinating for sure. Great macro Carl.

Guest		08-Jul-2012 16:47
Very interesting!

Tomasz Dziubinski - Photography		08-Jul-2012 14:26
Superb find and shot, Vote.

Tom LeRoy		08-Jul-2012 10:51
Wow, never have seen anything like this! Excellent shot, Carl.> V

larose forest photos		08-Jul-2012 03:12
This is amazing! It looks like a piece of jewelry!! Terrific! V

Guest		08-Jul-2012 02:50
Very interesting presentation. V.

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