caterpillar ID

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Grubbypaws

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caterpillar ID
« on: August 22, 2018, 13:29 »
Does any one know what this caterpillar is? It is nearly 2cm long and is on a salad leaf (giant red mustard)
caterpillar1.jpg
caterpillar2.jpg

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sunshineband

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2018, 18:46 »
A Hawk moth I think from the size and shape. There is a variety of elephant hawk caterpillar which is plain green... does it have a tiny  "tail horn"?
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Grubbypaws

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2018, 09:06 »
A Hawk moth I think from the size and shape. There is a variety of elephant hawk caterpillar which is plain green... does it have a tiny  "tail horn"?

No horn and it is yellow not green. It is almost featureless except on closer examination there are feint dots along its sides. I was wondering about a Herald moth but it is on a mustard salad leaf not a poplar or willow.

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sunshineband

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2018, 13:37 »
Can't see the head. Is it brown or yellow?
« Last Edit: August 23, 2018, 14:29 by sunshineband »

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Grubbypaws

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2018, 15:58 »
Can't see the head. Is it brown or yellow?
The head is yellow

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SnooziSuzi

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2018, 14:04 »
Did it curl up to a c shape when (if) you touched it?  I'm thinking an anaemic Angle Shades moth

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sunshineband

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #6 on: September 15, 2018, 11:55 »
Did it curl up to a c shape when (if) you touched it?  I'm thinking an anaemic Angle Shades moth

Angle Shades Moth (Phlogophora meticulosa) | Wildlife Insight

Yes, I think so too... found a link with some pictures for comparison and one looks very like it. Foodplanats can affect colouring so that might be why it is more yellow than green


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Grubbypaws

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #7 on: September 15, 2018, 12:10 »
Hi is still in my salad leaves! I sent a picture to my county moth recorder who thinks it is now in its last instar.

The salad leaves are in a raised bed with insect mesh covering. I have been asked to leave the cover on so that we can record it in its pupa stage and then when it emerges as an adult.
20180911_145324_resized.jpg

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Yorkie

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #8 on: September 15, 2018, 21:17 »
The salad leaves are in a raised bed with insect mesh covering. I have been asked to leave the cover on so that we can record it in its pupa stage and then when it emerges as an adult.

… and in the meantime, you may have to write off harvesting your salad leaves in the interests of nature!  :lol:
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Grubbypaws

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2018, 09:38 »

… and in the meantime, you may have to write off harvesting your salad leaves in the interests of nature!  :lol:

The caterpillarjust lives in one Mustards red giant plant. He is usually head down eating the new leaves as they emerge although he does occasionally sun bathe. We harvest the rest of the salad leaves as normal  :D

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sunshineband

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2018, 11:23 »
That new picture confirms it Grubby paws.. Angle Shades moth. That almost plaited appearance on its back is a dead giveaway  :nowink:

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Grubbypaws

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #11 on: September 24, 2018, 15:17 »
That new picture confirms it Grubby paws.. Angle Shades moth. That almost plaited appearance on its back is a dead giveaway  :nowink:
I was hoping to get a picture of its pupal stage but I cant find it any where. Should it just be on the ground under the plant he spent so long feeding on or should I be looking somewhere more specific?

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sunshineband

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Re: caterpillar ID
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2018, 09:31 »
That new picture confirms it Grubby paws.. Angle Shades moth. That almost plaited appearance on its back is a dead giveaway  :nowink:
I was hoping to get a picture of its pupal stage but I cant find it any where. Should it just be on the ground under the plant he spent so long feeding on or should I be looking somewhere more specific?

They pupate just under the surface of the soil, and the pupa is a reddish brown colour and about 1.75cm long. If you gently disturb the soil around the base of the plant you might find it.

« Last Edit: September 25, 2018, 09:32 by sunshineband »



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