Caterpillars in November

16 Wednesday Nov 2022

Tags

Knot grass larva, Knot grass moth, moth caterpillars, moth larvae, Noctiud caterpillar

Though I know many Lepidoptera over-winter as caterpillars, and this has been a particularly mild November as well, it was still a surprise to see these two caterpillars on one of my recent walks. From previous sightings, I knew that the black, red and white hairy beastie was the larva of a Knot grass moth (Acronicta rumicis) but I didn’t recognise the other one. One of my Twitter pals was able to tell me it’s one of the Noctuid species of moths but wasn’t able to be more specific, but I’ve just ordered a book I’ve long desired, The Field Guide to Caterpillars of Great Britain and Ireland, so will hopefully be able to update this post soon.

221116 noctuid sp knot grass

Cool cats

19 Thursday May 2022

Posted by sconzani in insects

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

butterfly caterpillars, butterfly larvae, caterpillars, larvae, moth caterpillars, moth larvae, sawfly caterpillars, sawfly larvae

Butterflies, moths, sawflies – all have larvae that look like caterpillars, cats. It’s that time of year when I feel compelled to check any leaves with holes to try to find the hole-maker, and so I’m finding lots of cool cats. These are just a few of the recent leaf-munchers I’ve discovered, some I can identify, some I can’t but that’s not always important: Lackey, unknown, Mirificarma lentiginosella, unknown, unknown, Drinker, Orange-tip, and Copper underwing.

220519 caterpillars

Small and hairy

09 Monday May 2022

Posted by sconzani in insects

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

British moths, caterpillars in a web, Lackey, Lackey caterpillars, Lackey larvae, Malacosoma neustria, moth caterpillars, moth larvae

In Saturday’s post we had the small and scary (if you don’t like spiders – personally, I thought they were adorable); today we have the small and hairy, a web of Lackey moth caterpillars (Malacosoma neustria), which can often be found at this time of year, their web wrapped around the twigs of various broadleaved trees and shrubs.

220509 lackey (1)

The early instar (youngest) larvae don’t show the blue side stripe or ghoulish face, which make these larvae so distinctive as they grow.

220509 lackey (2)

Winter caterpillars

15 Saturday Jan 2022

Posted by sconzani in insects, winter

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Angle shades caterpillar, Angle shades larvae, moth caterpillars, moth larvae, moth larvae in winter, Phlogophora meticulosa

These were a surprise on a chilly and very foggy early morning walk earlier this week.

I suppose I should have realised that some caterpillars overwinter as larvae but I was still amazed to find all but one of these four sitting in plain sight, fully exposed to the weather, covered in dew drops. I’m reliably informed these are the larvae of the Angle shades moth (Phlogophora meticulosa).

Pillars of the insect community

30 Thursday Sep 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

British insects, moth caterpillars, moth larvae, mystery caterpillars, mystery larvae, sawfly caterpillars, sawfly larvae

To showcase their diversity, in colour, size, shape, pattern, habits and hairiness, I’ve been gathering photos of these (cater)pillars of the insect community, the larvae of moths, sawflies, and some mysteries, which could be one of these … or something other. Here they are:

Moths: 5-spot burnet (Zygaena trifolii), Drinker (Euthrix potatoria), and the delightfully named Maiden’s blush (Cyclophora punctaria).

Sawflies: a possible Allantus species (its identity cannot be confirmed as it was on the wrong plant), and the fluffy looking Eriocampa ovata.

Mysteries: if you can ID any of these, please leave a comment below. Thanks!

Buff-tip larvae

18 Wednesday Aug 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects, nature

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

British moths, Buff-tip moth, Buff-tip moth caterpillars, moth caterpillars, moth larvae, Moth larvae on Oak leaves

I’ve never seen a Buff-tip moth (Phalera bucephala) except in photographs (they look incredibly like twigs – see images on the Butterfly Conservation website here). But yesterday I found their larvae, lots of them, all huddled together on the top side and underside of an Oak leaf.

210818 buff tip moth larvae (1)

The adult moth, which flies from May to early August, lays clusters of eggs under the leaves of the trees their caterpillars feed on, which, as well as Oak, include Hazel and the various birches and sallows, amongst others.

210818 buff tip moth larvae (2)

The larvae hatch out after 2-3 weeks and start eating. It takes just a month for them to go through their four instars, after which they move down into the ground to pupate. Come the spring, the whole process begins again.

210818 buff tip moth larvae (3)