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What are these caterpillars?
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 6:05 pm
by millerd
Can anyone identify these tent-dwelling caterpillars seen a few metres from the Thames at Runnymede this afternoon?
Thanks,
Dave
Re: What are these caterpillars?
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 6:25 pm
by Trev Sawyer
Poplar Sawfly larvae - Cladius grandis?
Trev
Re: What are these caterpillars?
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 6:52 pm
by millerd
Thanks, Trev. Not terribly attractive little things, are they?
Dave
Re: What are these caterpillars?
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 8:26 pm
by Trev Sawyer
Oh, I don't know Dave... Yellow with black spots is pretty smart I reckon. I suppose it warns predators they probably don't taste very nice. I don't think I would want to be housed inside their web though - some of those black dots are definitely
not part of their general paintwork!
Trev
Re: What are these caterpillars?
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 8:47 pm
by Chris Speke
Small Ermine moth larvae... in some years will reach plague proportions!
Re: What are these caterpillars?
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 8:52 pm
by Pete Eeles
Good call, Chris.
There were loads of Spindle Ermine moth webs at Magdalen Hill Down yesterday, spotted by the many attendees of the UKB Photo Workshop.
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=427
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: What are these caterpillars?
Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 6:26 pm
by millerd
I've just looked up Ermine Moths on the web (pun intended, I'm afraid...). Some extraordinary images of vast areas covered in fine white silk. The nest I saw was a minor thing in comparison.
Dave