Caterpillar of Painted Lady (blonde variation)
Most caterpillars of Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) are darker bodied, but color variations occur. The branched spikes are the main identifying characteristic.
Photographed at El Dorado Nature Center, Long Beach CA.
Hand-held Nikon D5000 at ISO 200, with Nikkor 105D macro lens, 1/200-sec at f/22, full sun + SB-600 speedlight with O-Flash 3/4-circle Fresnel prism attachment.