How many times do you usually take a look or take care of the plant in your garden? Most of us will likely to just water the plant every day or every other day, but not to give general inspection each day.
Just like how I found this Tailed Jay caterpillar. I have not noticed them until I found out many of the small magnolia leaves were torn out.
Most of them are the young leaves, some even almost completely gone leaving only the stem attached to the tree. upon further inspection, I found there are so many caterpillars attacking the tree and feeding its young leaves.
it looks a bit scary with the horn like features in his body.
It will stand when we disturb it, which makes them look even more scary and powerful.
This one is the young caterpillar found on the same tree. Notice how they have a very different color than the adult.
While this one seems to befriend the ants, it has already started to change color.
I can't believe I have not noticed them since the beginning, because now there are a lot of caterpillars in the same magnolia tree.
I think it is because of how they blend into the color of the magnolia leaves making it difficult to spot, not until they eat most of the leaves.