From the The Visual Studio 2005 Beta Experience Newsletter No.2:
The Visual Studio Beta Experience Caterpillar – is it real?
When we released the first Beta Experience visuals we were often asked whether this caterpillar with its Visual Studio brand colours is real or a fake.
It is indeed real. We did not retouch it. What appears to be a mascot for Visual Studio is the 4th or 5th instar larva of the North American Cecropia Silkmoth (other species in that family are used as a source of commercial silk). With a wingspan of 15 cm it is the largest moth in North America and surely one of the most beautiful (see picture). Its Latin name “Cecropia” derives from Cecrops, the mythological king of Attica and founder of Athens.
Some of you noted that the visual may resemble a “bug”. Although zoologically not correct, there is a grain of truth in it – this is a beta version and if you find any “bugs” it will help us to make the final version even better…
Με την εμφάνιση που έχει η πεταλούδα της καημένης κάμπιας, δεν την βλέπω να γίνεται πεταλούδα...
Χρήστος Γεωργακόπουλος