eek!

Re: eek!

Steph Phillips — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:19:44 GMT

THANK YOU SAL!!! we found one of these in my garden the other day & was trying to find out what it was.. it was huuugeee!! Got to admit though, it did freak me out a tad.. only because i've never come across a caterpillar that big!!

After his photo, I did put him back where I found him..

Re: eek!

Mrs Dot Dot — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:19:02 GMT

[quote user="Dippy"]

Oh! That may be him Mrs Dot Dot! He has those little broom like bristles definitely although haven't seen him (them, there were a couple) for a few weeks now though so can't check but I distinctly remember thinking they looked like little mini sweeping brushes on his back, 3 or 4 of them but not all the way down. Ta!

[/quote]

Glad we've found them... the moth isn't very pretty unlike it's caterpillar and the female doesn't fly! Has no wings just looks after the eggs... I'm not sure if it is one of the ones that doesn't feed either.. it's a hard life being female!

Re: eek!

Dippy — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:04:18 GMT

Re: eek!

Mrs Dot Dot — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:53:29 GMT

Is it like this?

A vapourer moth

Re: eek!

Sal the 1st — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:44:02 GMT

is it one of these at all is it

knotgrass caterpillar

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-9593468-knotgrass-moth-caterpillar-acronicta-rumicis.php

Re: eek!

Dippy — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:21:51 GMT

The closest I can find to it on tinterweb is a gypsy moth caterpillar which we seem to have plenty of lookalikey moths of here (I'm no expert but same colour and pattern!) so am guessing it may be this guy.

Also, on aforementioned geraniums about 6wks ago, there was a patch about the size of a 2p of tiny white eggs stick in a cluster all over one of the petals. Don't know whose these were either!

As the post are either side of my back door and it's gone decidedly autumnal in the mornings now< the damn things are just strung with cobwebs so I have to go out brandishing my spider vac first thing. Must look like summat off Star Wars wafting my plastic sword thing from side to side. It even has a light on it. How cool am I?

Re: eek!

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:14:42 GMT

Sounds like the ones you get on ragwort (Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar??)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dirkvdw/3709565793/

Re: eek!

Dippy — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:09:49 GMT

We had an elephant hawk moth on the doorstep of our surgery a couple of weeks ago. Had never seen one before but a client told me what it was. Would have freaked me out flying around my head but was beautiful to look at sitting still. Sadly someone had trodden on the edge of its wing though and it was stuck to the step so we had to put it out of its misery.

On a similar topic, I don't have a photo but my geraniums seem to be attracting large black caterpillers with red stripey bits on and little red bristles on a couple of the segments. Probably about 2ins long and reasonably chunky. Anyone any ideas....?

Re: eek!

Sal the 1st — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:12:28 GMT

double eek! - it would seem some of these are a bit more advanced and have wings

I swear they are big enough to be twin engined! Hope the bats have happy hunting tonight - might keep them down a bit

Re: eek!

Emma Purnell — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:35:02 GMT

Oh goodness Sal, I would LOVE to have these guys in my garden, get them in the post!!!

Re: eek!

Sal the 1st — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:34:44 GMT

BTW they love my fuschias - to bits! so if you have fuschias think twice about wanting these 'little' beauties in your garden

Re: eek!

Vicky RVN — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:32:37 GMT

Blimey that's creepy I don't 'do' creepy crawlies of any kind....god help me when i have a garden!!! Freaked at the beach today cos there was some little bug on my finger today that wouldn't let go

Re: eek!

Mrs Dot Dot — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:30:02 GMT

[quote user="Sal (the 1st) Holesworth VN CMH Chyp (M)PNLP"]

dead heading my fuschias this afternoon i found a couple of these

elephant hawk moth caterpillars - they are huge, at least 3 inches long!

[/quote]

Wow! Beautiful and impressive... I'd be proud to have those in my garden

My cats have caught a couple of privit hawk moths in the past which are huge but beautiful but I've never seen an elephant hawk moth or caterpillar

Re: eek!

Sal the 1st — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:26:57 GMT

hell I will send you all I can find - for free! - scarey beasts espec when they puff themselves up

Re: eek!

Emma Purnell — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:25:07 GMT

These are my FAVOURITE caterpillars in the world, and favourite moths - very jealous of you!!

Re: eek!

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:23:40 GMT

GROSS!!! ALthou, the moths are pretty! Am sure The 'Fink would love either

Re: eek!

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:10:20 GMT

Ewwww