Caterpillar Question

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Denise
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Caterpillar Question

Post by Denise »

For the last two evenings, while checking that slugs are not eating my young plants, I have seen a caterpillar feeding on my Primrose. It is quite small and grayish. I presumed that it was a moth, but is there any chance of it being a butterfly? I have looked for it during the day to take a photo, but I can't find it. It was a new plant at the end of last summer, bought from a wildflower nursery in Somerset near West Hatch. Dare I ask, could it be a DOB? :shock:

Denise
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Pete Eeles
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Re: Caterpillar Question

Post by Pete Eeles »

Hi Denise,

DOB overwinter as pupae, not larvae, so this is almost certainly a moth of some sort. You could breed it through and let us know :)

Cheers,

- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
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Denise
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Re: Caterpillar Question

Post by Denise »

Yes Pete, I thought so. A case of wishful hoping and putting my fingers in gear before my head. Thanks anyway. Feel a bit stupid now :oops:
Denise
thorntonmothman
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Re: Caterpillar Question

Post by thorntonmothman »

Hi. Silver Ground Carpet is one of the commoner moths using primrose sp. as a food plant. Larva isn't what I would call grey though. This is the only image I could find

http://www.habitas.org.uk/moths/larva.asp?item=5802

Good Luck !
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Denise
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Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:15 pm
Location: Bristol.

Re: Caterpillar Question

Post by Denise »

thorntonmothman wrote:Hi. Silver Ground Carpet is one of the commoner moths using primrose sp. as a food plant. Larva isn't what I would call grey though. This is the only image I could find

http://www.habitas.org.uk/moths/larva.asp?item=5802

Good Luck !
Thanks, but that's not it. Grey/light brown with a line running down the side and two tiny black dots at the bum end!
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