Hello there!
I just found a huge caterpillar an hour ago or so, and I have not been able to identify it. Unfortunately, I have only a cell phone to take pictures with - but I think if you know the species you'll still recognize it. It's fairly big, I'd say around 10 cm (possibly longer) when it stretches, with four black and purple dots (two on each side, around the torso). I found it in Western Norway around Bergen. And would anyone know what it feeds, and if it's possible to keep it in a somewhat improvised terrarium, to watch it's metamorphosis (next spring i presume)?
Pictures at Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/njaaln/6056841928/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/njaaln/6056841424/
Big caterpillar, black/brown, west. Norway (can I keep it?)
- CommonBlue
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:42 pm
- Pete Eeles
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Re: Big caterpillar, black/brown, west. Norway (can I keep i
Elephant Hawk-moth, the same as your avatar
Fuchsia or willowherb!
Cheers,
- Pete
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Fuchsia or willowherb!
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
- CommonBlue
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:42 pm
Re: Big caterpillar, black/brown, west. Norway (can I keep i
Pete Eeles wrote:Elephant Hawk-moth, the same as your avatar![]()
Fuchsia or willowherb!
Cheers,
- Pete
Really? Haha, wow. My profile picture was taken in Germany, had no idea they lived in Western Norway too. Thanks Pete!
Re: Big caterpillar, black/brown, west. Norway (can I keep i
Keep in mind that if you provide both foodplants and it still doesn't look interested, and just does a lot of walking...it's probably ready to pupate rather than eat. Elephant Hawkmoths pupate amongst the leaf litter / moss on the ground, so make sure that there is some soil, moss and dried leaves at the bottom of your terrarium. If it pupates amongst that leave it alone to do it's business for at least a week, as it will construct a shelter from the plant rubbish.
I love these caterpillars, as I remember seeing plenty in my youth and I still do see them locally if I am lucky (normally feeding on Rosebay Willow-herb, but as mentioned, can feed on Fuschia and other types of Willow-herb too).
Michael
I love these caterpillars, as I remember seeing plenty in my youth and I still do see them locally if I am lucky (normally feeding on Rosebay Willow-herb, but as mentioned, can feed on Fuschia and other types of Willow-herb too).
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Michael
Re: Big caterpillar, black/brown, west. Norway (can I keep i
This is a caterpillar that occasionally is reported in local newspapers with the finder thinking they have come across a little snakeMichaeljf wrote:I love these caterpillars, as I remember seeing plenty in my youth and I still do see them locally if I am lucky (normally feeding on Rosebay Willow-herb, but as mentioned, can feed on Fuschia and other types of Willow-herb too).
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)