“Jezebel” the caterpillar

Scientific name: unknown
Geographic location: Venezuela, South America
Artist: Jessa Huebing-Reitinger
Medium: Pastel on pumas grit paper 22” x 28” 2004
Performance venue: ESA Regional Meeting, Kansas City, MO. USA
Collection of: Hunter Pace

Jezebel was painted with a photographic reference instead of a specimen. She was photographed in Venezuela, South America; however, her species is unknown. Despite her Jane Doe character, we can still point out some interesting facts about her. For instance, the antennas that protrude from her top are really coming from her bottom, as an act of disguise and defense and she even has a false eye to fool you better. Her head is actually facing downward on the leaf, and she is eating away as caterpillars do best. She is also orange, yellow, and red in color which indicates to predators that she either tastes real bad or is pretending that she does.