Caterpillar ID

[Sylvie_h]

Can anybody help with the identification of this caterpillar? I found 2 specimens in my garden last year (Swansea / West Glamorgan).
Thank you.
Sylvie

[Allan.W.]

Bit of a puzzler ,that one Sylvie , I,ve had a look through my couple of field guides and a website ,but can,t see anything quite like that . There are several similar but none quite the same,unfortunately most field guides only show the full grown larvae ,as you know,
and I do wonder if that particular larva is fixing itself to shed its penultimate skin . the only larvae (to my eye ) that looks similar
is the Satellite ,but that said ………… I don,t think its that ! Sorry ,not much help (I,ll get my coat !!)
Regards Allan.W.

[Sylvie_h]

Hi Allan,

Thank you. I think it could be a black cutworm which develops into the moth Agrostis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass moth). However I don't know if this species is to be found in the UK. It is a widespread species found worldwide in the northern hemisphere according to Wikipedia.
I can't find it listed in the UKmoths website either.....
Sylvie

[Allan.W.]

Hello Sylvie ,
Yes ,Dark Sword Grass does look very like your Larvae ,and I think you,ve cracked it ,it was one of four possibles that I looked at,and looking again
it definitely looks the most likely. There is a good photo in BRITISH MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES ,A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE .(page 309 ) by Chris Manley.
Regards Allan.W.