Caterpillar ID

[luppaloula]

I have this morning found a caterpillar snuggled up on the outside of my kitchen door. I live on the coast of North Wales. Can anyone tell me what it is? And should I leave it where it is or move it to somewhere safer and more sheltered?
Liz

[Denise]

That looks like a Pale Tussock Moth to me.
See http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1095
It's probably looking for somewhere to pupate, so put him on some soft soil and he will bury himself.

Denise

[luppaloula]

Thanks Denise, I'll go and move it into a more suitable home right away.
Excuse my total ignorance of how moths & butterflies 'work' here - I have lived most of my life in the Caribbean - if it pupates now will it stay buried in the cold ground until spring or is there time for it to emerge before winter really sets in?
Liz

[Denise]

Hi Liz,

Once it has buried itself, it will stay there until it hatches out as an adult moth next May/June.
Most moths use this method, and a few butterflies too, but generally butterflies pupate above ground.
If there is only one 'brood' this means that the adults fly for just one period a year. The rest of the time is spent growing or hibernating. If there is more than one brood a year, (eg, Brown Argus), then they lay eggs which hatch and mature to fly in the same year.

Does all that make sense?
Denise

[luppaloula]

Hi Denise,
Excellent explanation and yes it all makes perfect sense
I've put the caterpillar in loose soil as you suggested but he is just lying there doing nothing. I'm worried that a bird is going to come along and have him for tea! Perhaps he has already gone into the pupating stage and has no energy to burrow? I was wondering if it would be ok to put some soil in a little plant pot and bury him? Thus helping him and also giving me the opportunity to watch for the moth hatching in the spring? Do you have any opinion on that?
Liz

[Denise]

He does sound like he's a bit far down the pupation road, and has no energy to bury himself.
I wouldn't cover him in soil as he may go mouldy, but you could put him in a tub with some tissue paper covering him. He may wake up and get on the move again in which case you could offer him soil to bury, but my guess is that he may lay there for up to three days and then suddenly change into a larva. You can keep him in a dark cool place (shed, garage or fridge) for the winter and then get him out mid April (in his tub) and nature will do the rest.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.

Good luck
Denise

[Trev Sawyer]

Hi Liz/Denise,
I think you are right in that the caterpillar is preparing to pupate, but I don't think these particular caterpillars bury themselves under the soil. I reckon it was just wandering around looking for somewhere to spin a thin cocoon amongst leaf litter. So, a few dry leaves or small ripped sections of thin cardboard would give it something to spin onto. If left alone amongst some of this, it should soon encase itself enough to overcome its obvious shyness and take it's fancy green coat off.

Trev

[Deano]

Hello Liz and Denise.
Trev is correct; I've recently had one of these larvae, and it pupated amongst some leaves in the box in which I was rearing it. I've only ever had one before, and that was given to me by a relative. This one I actually found myself a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't looking for it, but its beautiful bright colours just caught my eye as I walked past the Field Maple tree that it was feeding on. I love the fluffy tufts of hair as well; like a particularly attractive and gentle toothbrush!

[geniculata]

blimey deano what brand of tooth brushes do you use?

its such a stunning little thing,


gary.

[Deano]

Hi Gary
I'm working on the design of a new, extra soft bristled model, especially for those of us with sensitive teeth!
Regards
Deano.