Caterpillar for i/d

[Crispin]

Hi
A friend posted this caterpillar on my facebook and is wanting to know what it is.
It is feeding on thyme, looks very similar to pictures of the brown tail moth in later instars.
Is it a dark arches?

Any ideas?

Crispin

[Pete Eeles]

Looks like a Knot Grass to me, Crispin. See:

http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=795

Cheers,

- Pete

[Ian Pratt]

Any ideas?

[Pete Eeles]

Hi Ian - can't quite make out the foodplant. At first glance, looks like either a Painted Lady or, if discovered in a rolled up nettle leaf, a Red Admiral.

Cheers,

- Pete

[millerd]

If that's on a nettle, my guess (and it's only a guess...) is that it's a Red Admiral. It has branching spines which seem to be something lots of Nymphalid butterflies have, but it doesn't seem to be any of the other ones.

Dave

[Ian Pratt]

It is a nettle leaf so I think it is a red admiral. Thanks for your help.