When I’m out walking at this time of year, I always keep a look out for leaf damage as that’s often the way to find invertebrates, whether they be weevils or beetle larvae or moth caterpillars or many other things. Today I thought I’d share some of the cool caterpillars I’ve been finding, most of which are relatively common and easy for everyone to identify. (I’ve linked each name to the relevant page on the UK Moths website so the curious amongst you can see what these cats will look like as moths; it always amazes me how different the adults are from their progeny.)

Having said that most of these are relatively common, I’d never actually seen a Common quaker (Orthosia cerasi) caterpillar before but found several recently on one Oak tree. Judging by how plump they were, all had been feeding well, and would be pupating quite soon after I saw them.

As you can perhaps see in my photo, this Lackey (Malacosoma neustria) caterpillar had just moulted (that’s the shed skin on the leaf next to it) and so was looking very vibrant. The Lackey is mostly found in southern parts of Britain and is a good example of how different the adult is – really quite drab.

Do these Mottled umber (Erannis defoliaria) caterpillars think their twig impression will deter hungry birds? Perhaps so. Judging by the fact that I spotted more than 20, of varying sizes and with slight colour variations, on a group of Lombardy poplar trees, their disguise was working.

I have to admit that I wasn’t the first to spot this lovely little Ruby tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) heading purposefully across a local footpath. A young boy, who was out with his parents and their dog, had seen it and was trying, unsuccessfully, to feed it Dandelion leaves.

You may recall that, back in January, I blogged about finding a Vapourer cocoon and eggs. Well, though I found this particular caterpillar in a different place entirely, this is what would eventually have emerged from those eggs, the wonderfully flamboyant caterpillar of a Vapourer moth (Orgyia antiqua).