Frangipani caterpillar (Guadeloupe, Vieux Fort)

This frangipani hawkmoth caterpillar ( Pseudosphinx tetrio ), recognizable by its bright red head and black and yellow ringed body , is typical of the West Indies and much of tropical America . It feeds exclusively on the leaves of the frangipani ( Plumeria ), whose toxic sap makes it unattractive to predators . This plant-insect relationship is an example of island ecological interdependence . Before becoming a large moth , it buries itself for its metamorphosis. Although often perceived as a pest, it plays a role in the balance of local vegetation .