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Caterpillar for i/d

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:44 pm
by 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

Re: Caterpillar for i/d

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:28 am
by Pete Eeles
Looks like a Knot Grass to me, Crispin. See:

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

Cheers,

- Pete

Re: Caterpillar for i/d

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:04 pm
by Ian Pratt
Any ideas? :?:

Re: Caterpillar for i/d

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:35 pm
by 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

Re: Caterpillar for i/d

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:40 pm
by 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

Re: Caterpillar for i/d

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 7:01 am
by Ian Pratt
It is a nettle leaf so I think it is a red admiral. Thanks for your help. :)