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What's that caterpillar?
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:07 pm
by 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
Re: What's that caterpillar?
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:18 pm
by 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
Re: What's that caterpillar?
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:33 pm
by 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 868 times
- 2008_09110003 800pxl.jpg (203.75 KiB) Viewed 867 times
- Beautiful golden and reddy brown tufts and black outlined white diamonds down its back
- 2008_09110002 800pxl.jpg (235.24 KiB) Viewed 869 times
Any ideas?
Thanks
Mark
Re: What's that caterpillar?
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:57 pm
by Pete Eeles
Hi Mark - a Sycamore moth. See:
http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1137
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: What's that caterpillar?
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:02 am
by bugmadmark
Thanks Pete -
Perfect t iming so Jack can take the info (and the caterpillar) back to school this morning.
Mark
Re: What's that caterpillar?
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 12:41 pm
by 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
Re: What's that caterpillar?
Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:33 pm
by 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 722 times
Re: What's that caterpillar?
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:57 am
by hjalava
Yes, a Grey Dagger larva. It feeds on many kinds of trees and shrubs.
Re: What's that caterpillar?
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:29 pm
by 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.