Comments on: Abbott’s Sphinx Caterpillar http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/08/14/abbotts-sphinx-caterpillar/ A Field Guide to the North Side of Old Mill Hill, Atlantic Mine, MI Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Tim Eisele http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/08/14/abbotts-sphinx-caterpillar/comment-page-1/#comment-1882 Tim Eisele Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:02:42 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=1029#comment-1882 Zack: That's pretty cool! Now I need to remember to get a sound recording next time we find a sphinx caterpillar. Zack: That’s pretty cool! Now I need to remember to get a sound recording next time we find a sphinx caterpillar.

]]> By: Zack http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/08/14/abbotts-sphinx-caterpillar/comment-page-1/#comment-1860 Zack Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:37:25 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=1029#comment-1860 I caught one the other day right outside my house in Texas. It is still green and has its horn. It actually squeaks like a mouse. It only squeaked while I was trying to catch it but it scared the crap out of me when it happened. I caught one the other day right outside my house in Texas. It is still green and has its horn. It actually squeaks like a mouse. It only squeaked while I was trying to catch it but it scared the crap out of me when it happened.

]]> By: Tim Eisele http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/08/14/abbotts-sphinx-caterpillar/comment-page-1/#comment-1443 Tim Eisele Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:22:10 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=1029#comment-1443 Although, in theory, a whistling caterpillar could whistle *chords*. Although, in theory, a whistling caterpillar could whistle *chords*.

]]> By: K T Cat http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/08/14/abbotts-sphinx-caterpillar/comment-page-1/#comment-1440 K T Cat Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:31:26 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=1029#comment-1440 It would be an aggregate hiss, then, a collection of tiny hisslets all occurring at the same time. Whistling in tune would be impossible for this little guy. It would be an aggregate hiss, then, a collection of tiny hisslets all occurring at the same time. Whistling in tune would be impossible for this little guy.

]]> By: Tim Eisele http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/08/14/abbotts-sphinx-caterpillar/comment-page-1/#comment-1439 Tim Eisele Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:51:07 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=1029#comment-1439 About the hissing: that's one of the quirks of insects - they don't actually have lungs, as such. What they have is breathing spiracles, leading to <a href="http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/tutorial/respire.html" rel="nofollow"> tracheal tubes that branch, and branch, and branch until they conduct oxygen all through the entire body</a>. So, the answer to the question "where would they store enough air to hiss?" would be "Everywhere". The violent, convulsive side-to-side thrashing of the caterpillar would compress the tracheal tubes on one side of the body, and I can see where it would force the air out fast enough to make an audible hiss. About the hissing: that’s one of the quirks of insects – they don’t actually have lungs, as such. What they have is breathing spiracles, leading to tracheal tubes that branch, and branch, and branch until they conduct oxygen all through the entire body. So, the answer to the question “where would they store enough air to hiss?” would be “Everywhere”. The violent, convulsive side-to-side thrashing of the caterpillar would compress the tracheal tubes on one side of the body, and I can see where it would force the air out fast enough to make an audible hiss.

]]> By: K T Cat http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/08/14/abbotts-sphinx-caterpillar/comment-page-1/#comment-1435 K T Cat Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:35:59 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=1029#comment-1435 Where in the world would the thing store enough air to hiss? As for single eyes and spines, a friend of mine says, "Life is a kluge." I've always liked that. Where in the world would the thing store enough air to hiss?

As for single eyes and spines, a friend of mine says, “Life is a kluge.” I’ve always liked that.

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