Fascinating article on New Scientist about "Zombie Caterpillars": http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14053-zombie-caterpillars-controlled-by-voodoo-wasps.html It goes on to say: "One parasite, for instance, infects an ant and appears to "convince" it to climb to the tops ...

I thought it was an ant at first but it didn't look right on closer inspection. Someone tells me it's another wasp - but a wasp with no wings? Is this an early developmental stage? And could it be the same species as emerged from the cocoons or a different one?

Today I found them tucking in to a Burnet Moth caterpillar:



Further along the coast another insect was evening the score:

I went back to the same spot yesterday and no sign of caterpillars (or moths) but I did find thousands of Braconidae wasp eggs newly fastened to many of the same grass stems: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4752847771_56b40a40d8_d.jpg Is it possible they were responsible for parasitising the cat...

Yes - that looks similar to the image Roy attached to his email. No heather along this bit of the coast but downland seems to match the habitat conditions also. I think we may have a winner! I'm surprised parasitisation would provide such an obvious clue to potential predators - I assume the parasit...

Ian at ukmoths very kindly got back to me yesterday with a suggestion from Roy at ukleps that it might be Black Rustic final instar in an unusual yellow or sick form. He says "Build very similar. Also note the dark marks either side of the spiracles on the first two or three abdominal segments ...

But why would parasitisation by a wasp explain the behaviour of the ants? And what would explain the big difference in pattern and colouration?

Dave - thanks. I'm looking at Powdered Quaker on ukleps and I would never have recognised it - that one appears to have quite distinctive stripes the entire length of its body in all its illustrated variations. But I'm in no position to argue! The body form does look a good match and I bow to Reg's ...

Dave - thanks. Would you really describe it as "Green" though? I'm seeing yellow.

Lee - I did take a look at ukmoths.org.uk last week actually but couldn't find an email address to contact Ian. Any idea what it is? Trev - ukleps doesn't seem to contain either of those species. Anywhere else you've seen the caterpillars pictured? Habitat described on ukmoths doesn't sound like a g...

Lee - ukmoths.org appears to have been hijacked by a domain name registrar.

Charles - Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing looks a definite possibility although a lot more speckled than this suspect. Trev - can't find Large Wainscot or White Colon on ukleps - do they have other names? I emailed Reg at ukleps but I know he's not keen on ID queries and no reply so far. Can anyone ...

Definitely not a Goat Moth I don't think but thanks Dave. Closer to a Swift Moth of some variety but none which I've been able to match.

Hello. Can anyone ID this large yellow caterpillar for me please? It has baffled every expert I've shown it to so far. It was about 3 inches long on calcareous grassland in Purbeck, Dorset, UK. Spotted in the first week of June this year. http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/archive/data/502/IMG_0037_1...