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Caterpillar ID

B3B3 Posts: 24,484
in Wildlife gardening
I came across these chaps when I was tidying  the toadflax 

In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
    Look like toadflax brocade moth B3,  mine were covered earlier in the year.  My Grandson was disturbed to see ants attacking one (apparently) and had his mum remove it to a safe place  :) 
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,484
    Thanks @herbaceous.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
     :) 
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,484
    I've been watching them. Once I realised which end is up, I noticed that they eat the leaves in straight horizontal lines. They are very methodical. They make the leaves look as if you've cut them with secateurs. They also seem to steady the bit they're working on with their front legs (arms?)
    Very interesting.
    There's plenty of toadflax for everybody😉
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Anna33Anna33 Posts: 300
    Well, you learn something new every day. I would have (incorrectly) guessed at mullein moth caterpillars - on looking up both them and the toadflax brocade moth caterpillars, they look identical except one has vertical yellow stripes, and the other has horizontal yellow stripes. Other than that, they look so similar!

    Now... will have to try and remember that difference if (when?) I next see either of them in real life...!!
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