‘It rains a lot in Thailand in the summer,’ says Josiah. But that didn’t stop him exploring and discovering this miniature marvel. Without a macro lens to hand, he crouched down to silhouette the caterpillar against the bright, overcast sky. ‘I love how the water drops and hair clusters make it look like water is squirting out of it like little fountains,’ he says.
Monkey moths are named after their furry adult bodies, but the caterpillars are even hairier. The hairs are water-repellent, protecting the insect from daily rain showers, although their main role is defence – making the juicy caterpillar less palatable to birds and small mammals that might be looking for a snack.
Canada
Josiah has been interested in nature photography since he was seven. He had always wanted to join his father and big sister on outings in the Albertan wilderness, where he eventually worked on his photography technique. He was named Young Outdoor Photographer of the Year in 2014 and was featured in a short film by Nikon about his wildlife and conservation photography.
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