What's that caterpillar?

[bugmadmark]

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

[Pete Eeles]

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

[bugmadmark]

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...

A poor pic - but note the v the shaped marking on its black head

2008_09110001.JPG (217.59 KiB) Viewed 872 times

2008_09110003 800pxl.jpg (203.75 KiB) Viewed 871 times

Beautiful golden and reddy brown tufts and black outlined white diamonds down its back

2008_09110002 800pxl.jpg (235.24 KiB) Viewed 873 times

Any ideas?

Thanks
Mark

[Pete Eeles]

Hi Mark - a Sycamore moth. See:

http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1137

Cheers,

- Pete

[bugmadmark]

Thanks Pete -

Perfect t iming so Jack can take the info (and the caterpillar) back to school this morning.

Mark

[Charles Nicol]

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

[bugmadmark]

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 ...

Grey Dagger caterpillar?

Caterpillar 14 Sept 08.jpg (175.51 KiB) Viewed 726 times

[hjalava]

Yes, a Grey Dagger larva. It feeds on many kinds of trees and shrubs.

[eccles]

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.