I came across this “flower” while walking in the beach by the river Plate.

On closer inspection the real “flower” was revealed!

They were in fact hairy caterpillars aggregated together in a bunch!

I will find out more about them and let you know.

 

Note: The caterpillars are Morpho epistrophus, a rather beautiful butterfly!

See:

http://netnature.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/ecologia-de-borboletas-morpho/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpho_epistrophus

https://www.flickr.com/photos/grandma-shirley/6703808411/