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Found in Fuschia bush.Any ideas?

dorjac

By Dorjac


Found in Fuschia bush.Any ideas?

Looks like Betty Boop only not so pretty



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Hi Dorjac,looks almost cute !! I think it is the caterpillar of the elephant hawk moth.Did the end with the 'eyes' get larger when disturbed ? They do that to put off predators.They do apparently like fuchsias -sorry :(
This is probably quite a young one ,they can grow as big as a man's little finger :p

22 Jul, 2009

 

I don't normally like bugs, but this is so appealing! It would make a great character for a child's storybook.

22 Jul, 2009

 

I'm sure that Aster is correct Dorjac. These grow to about 80mm long.

22 Jul, 2009

 

He/she is cute - looks shy :)

22 Jul, 2009

 

Lo and behold Aster you are right. I got back from a long wait at the hospital for my husband and found THE GARDEN magazine on my mat. In wildlife diary page there is a picture of an Elephant Hawk Moth. All pink and green. Feeds at night by hovering and collecting nectar through a proboscis (what a lovely word). Very impressive moth. The caterpillar likes fuschia to feed off. The moth is quite common. Though I have never seen one before. We put it back in the fuschia and left it to go its way. The fuschia has survived.

23 Jul, 2009

 

So glad you did that :) At least your fuchsia isn't covered in them otherwise it might have been a different ending ! There are lots of attractive moths which we never see,such a shame, only their caterpillars and shredded plants :(

23 Jul, 2009

 

Great photo & I agree with Pasuki, you could almost cuddle it with those big soft eyes.

3 Aug, 2009



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