What caterpillar is this?

This caterpillar was found on the trunk of a dying Ash tree that SP cut down.


















For all intents and purposes, we were pretty sure by appearance not to touch it. Those hairy caterpillars can leave some nasty rashes. I have a video of it but I am not sure they will upload.



















The funny thing about it though, is that when we used the stick to move it back onto the wedge we noticed the red underbelly that was edged in some flecks of almost chartreuse green.


We took these picture on a piece of the ash wedges Shane cut out, because it was SO unbelievably camouflaged on the tree trunk. See!


















I'm still asking, what they heck will this guy turn into?

Missing Monarchs

Has everyone noticed the lack of Monarch caterpillars this year? Blame it on the rain, but I am rather worried about the effect this season will have on the already threatened migration of the Monarch's. It didn't dawn on me until I began harvesting the garden, that none of the milkweed I nurtured and didn't weed or mow was being eaten or used by the majestic caterpillar. Instead, I found yellow tussock moth like caterpillars and these beautiful look-a-likes. I don't know what it is, but it loves my dill, looks a lot like the Monarch, but has chartreuse stripes in place of the orange. Anyone?