The best guess so far is that this charming caterpillar is Spilosoma virginica (Virginian Tiger Moth), and I figured we wouldn't get more than a "best guess" based on a photograph which fails to show any specific field characteristics. The moth is fairly common in the Pacific Northwest. He was minding his own business, so I minded mine, running through my daily tai chi "silk reeling" exercise on Big Bridge. With those guard hairs, I certainly wasn't going to interfere with him. That said, I had already found a better name for him than his dry scientific moniker. I mean, isn't it obvious to you that he should be called Dewey?
