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West Midlands, United Kingdom Gb

Caterpiller i.d please. I saw this amazing caterpiller today, I've never seen anything like it before, the rain drops make it look even odder as you can see it was on crocosmea leaves. It carried its tail high, looked so alien. Sorry the pics aren't better:-))



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Answers

 

I think I've found it on discoverlife.org, a fantastic website. I think it's Orgyia leucostigma, White-marked Tussock Moth caterpillar. How come I've never seen anything like it before? ...aint life wierd. I've left these pics and question on in case anyone wants to see it:-)

24 Aug, 2013

 

Ba , a bit scary , eh ?
Another world , isn't it ?
Well spotted and captured for posterity !

24 Aug, 2013

 

Haha, so that's why you asked Driad, you'll think me a fool now, should have seen this first lol:-))

24 Aug, 2013

 

That's why I didn't ask,Ba.!.Lol ..I haven't seen one before either,so thanks for the info..:o) x

24 Aug, 2013

 

Is it supposed to be in the West Midlands? Or are you on holiday somewhere?

Looks like something a fly fisher would create.

24 Aug, 2013

 

Its amazing - well spotted and snapped! Great photos.

24 Aug, 2013

 

Thanks Stera, I shot in to get my camera:-)

24 Aug, 2013

 

Hi Urbanite, I would like to be on my holidays somewhere, but I live in Walsall as does this creature:-))

24 Aug, 2013

 

Well Sandra, if you ever see one again....you'll know what it is lol:-))

24 Aug, 2013

 

I've done some further digging and think it is possibly the rusty tussock or vapourer moth caterpillar as the white one seems to be canadian:-))

24 Aug, 2013

 

Yes, it is a Vapourer Moth Caterpillar. The moth is unusual too, mottled wood-like brown with a big white dot on each wing that look like eyes.

24 Aug, 2013

 

I wonder why I have never seen one before Myron? Maybe it's global warming or are they common in the Midlands? Also the pics of the vapourer larvae don't seem to have black bodies which this one does. I seem to have made you the moth expert lol:-))

26 Aug, 2013

 

Haha, not really a moth expert, I just knew someone that used to go out catching them to pin on boards. Don't ask me why, not my idea of fun but each to their own, but I learned some interesting facts from him and one of the them that stood out was the vapourer moth. It was so lovely with what looked like eyes on the wings. I remember him telling me that the female moth never grows any wings, so it never leaves the house so to speak.

The colour of the Vapourer moth caterpillar varies from grey, through brown, to dark black, so I'm almost certain that's what you have.

26 Aug, 2013

 

Thanks Myron, how odd that the female doesn't have wings, I suppose there must be some evolutionary advantage to this although I can't think what:-)

27 Aug, 2013

 

Female Vapourer moths don't have wings because they don't need them. They stay at home spinning a cocoon while the male moth flies about collecting food then comes back to mate with the female.

I suppose an analogy of this would be a wife that stays at home and does the housework. She doesn't have a driving license because she doesn't need to drive. Her husband drives the car, spends all day working and brings the food home. Then it's PARTY TIME, Haha.

27 Aug, 2013

 

She doesn't even have to look after the kids ....I bet she dies after she lays:-(

27 Aug, 2013

 

Yep.

27 Aug, 2013

 

What fun THAT would be for us all !

28 Aug, 2013

 

What Driad...dying? :-(((

28 Aug, 2013

 

Tongue in cheek , Ba , of course .
What is the saying .... " life's a bitch , and then you die ".
Must have been a non-gardener !

29 Aug, 2013

 

You missed the middle bit from that saying Driad ;o)

29 Aug, 2013

 

I don't know it , Myron ; is it printable ?

31 Aug, 2013

 

Probably a bit sexist, so I don't want to offend ;o)

31 Aug, 2013

 

Best way , Myron .

3 Sep, 2013

How do I say thanks?

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