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The saddleback caterpillar, Sibine stimulea (Clemens), is a very unusual and striking insect. It is brown with a green back and flanks on which is a conspicuous, brown, oval-shaped central area usually bordered with white. The brown spot gives the appearance of a saddle and the green area appears to be a saddle blanket; hence, the common name. It may exceed an inch in length and is stout bodied. The primary nettling hairs are borne on the back of fleshy protuberances toward the front and hind ends of the body. There is also a row of smaller stinging organs on each side. This caterpillar feeds on many plants including hibiscus and palms, but appears to show little host preference.
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