Can anyone recommend any good online caterpillar id guides? My son brought a caterpillar home fromschool. He didnt bring it on its foodplant so it'll go back tomorrow - but would be nice to id it. Its prob a moth. Sorry no pic, but rough description as follows
Just over 1 inch long
Golden brown hairy caterpillar
Hairs in distinct tufts in 2 rows down back - some tufts golden brown some more reddy brown
Distinct row of large white spots down back (x9) - each spot outlined in black
Head jet black with an upside down brown v shape.
Front legs black
Any ideas?
Thanks
Mark
What's that caterpillar?
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- Pete Eeles
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Re: What's that caterpillar?
Hi Mark - you could try here for butterflies:
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species_ ... tage=larva
and here for larvae in general
http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/
As for your your caterpillar, do you have a photo?
Cheers,
- Pete
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species_ ... tage=larva
and here for larvae in general
http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/
As for your your caterpillar, do you have a photo?
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
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Re: What's that caterpillar?
Thanks Pete - not been able to id yet. Just snapped some images as its quite a smart little critter - i bet it will be quite a dull looking moth in the end! Im a bit embarrassed to put such poor pics up - but i can get better close ups on the fuji finepix than i can with the big canon and zoom lens. Do your worst...
Any ideas?
Thanks
Mark
Any ideas?
Thanks
Mark
- Pete Eeles
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Re: What's that caterpillar?
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
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Re: What's that caterpillar?
Thanks Pete -
Perfect t iming so Jack can take the info (and the caterpillar) back to school this morning.
Mark
Perfect t iming so Jack can take the info (and the caterpillar) back to school this morning.
Mark
- Charles Nicol
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Re: What's that caterpillar?
hi bugmadmark
i noticed that you live in Cambridgeshire.
you might like to look at the Caterpillars of Cambridgeshire pics on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/428124@N20/
best wishes
Charles
i noticed that you live in Cambridgeshire.
you might like to look at the Caterpillars of Cambridgeshire pics on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/428124@N20/
best wishes
Charles
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Re: What's that caterpillar?
Thanks for the info. We popped some horsechestnut and sycamore leaves into the pot with the caterpillar and left it in the classroom for the kids in my sons class to look at with the intention of letting it go that afternoon. However when we checked it out it had spun a cocoon - so now it lives with us in the house waiting for it to emerge.
As I came back from emptying the bins this evening my wife spotted another beautiful caterpillar crawling up my back. I just took another quick snap of it on my sons camera and I think Ive identifed it as a Grey Dagger Moth. There's only one bush I would have brushed past so I've put it on there as Ive not found out a yet what it eats. The only thing is I've no idea what the bush is as its appeared out of the side of the compost heap- and looks like an exotic fruit tree so I hope it likes it!
Here's the caterpillar ...
As I came back from emptying the bins this evening my wife spotted another beautiful caterpillar crawling up my back. I just took another quick snap of it on my sons camera and I think Ive identifed it as a Grey Dagger Moth. There's only one bush I would have brushed past so I've put it on there as Ive not found out a yet what it eats. The only thing is I've no idea what the bush is as its appeared out of the side of the compost heap- and looks like an exotic fruit tree so I hope it likes it!
Here's the caterpillar ...
Last edited by bugmadmark on Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: What's that caterpillar?
Yes, a Grey Dagger larva. It feeds on many kinds of trees and shrubs.
Harri Jalava
Re: What's that caterpillar?
That's a coincidence. I was about to post a similar picture. Mine was found on rose bush cuttings. I placed it on a live rosebush and it began to munch away quite happily.