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uncommon
Puss Moth
Cerura vinula
- Habitat
- Willow and poplar woodlands across Europe and temperate Asia
- Wingspan
- 70 mm
- Order
- Lepidoptera · Notodontidae
Weird but real
Its caterpillar rears up a red mask, waves two whip-like tails, and squirts formic acid at attackers.
Why it's cool
The fluffy grey adult is disarmingly cute, but its larva is a punk-rock acid-spraying gargoyle with retractable tails.
