Caterpillar in February - what could it be?

jemimarose

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We found this caterpillar inside our house! What could it be?! My children want to overwinter it until it turns into a moth - therefore, what can we feed it? Thank you. 

Fairygirl

Hawkmoth of some kind - maybe the privet one.
One of the wildlife boys will help you further @wild edges or @Alan Clark2 in Liverpool

AnniD

Looks like a moth of some kind 
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2021/07/hawk-moth-caterpillar-identification/

wild edges

I hate caterpillar ID   They're so variable that it can be hard to verify from reliable sources I'm afraid. Just from that photo I'll have a guess at Large Yellow Underwing moth but there's similar ones in that whole group. http://www.wildlifeinsight.com/british-moths/large-yellow-underwing-moth-and-caterpillar-noctua-pronuba/  They're quite a general feeder but probably should be hibernating at this time of year so it might be better to keep it somewhere cool. It won't emerge as a moth until July or even as late as September so you don't want to confuse it into pupating too early. There's some good info on rearing them here. 

jemimarose

wild edges said:

I hate caterpillar ID   They're so variable that it can be hard to verify from reliable sources I'm afraid. Just from that photo I'll have a guess at Large Yellow Underwing moth but there's similar ones in that whole group. http://www.wildlifeinsight.com/british-moths/large-yellow-underwing-moth-and-caterpillar-noctua-pronuba/  They're quite a general feeder but probably should be hibernating at this time of year so it might be better to keep it somewhere cool. It won't emerge as a moth until July or even as late as September so you don't want to confuse it into pupating too early. There's some good info on rearing them here. 

Great - OK, thank you. So should it go outside into the shed? Or where should we put it? 

Alan Clark2 in Liverpool

I also think it is Large Yellow Underwing. They feed on a wide variety of plants, including dock, cultivated brassicas, marigold foxglove and some grasses. It should emerge around the end of May.

https://www.animal.photos/insect5/cat-lyuw.htm

jemimarose

Alan Clark2 in Liverpool said:

I also think it is Large Yellow Underwing. They feed on a wide variety of plants, including dock, cultivated brassicas, marigold foxglove and some grasses. It should emerge around the end of May.

https://www.animal.photos/insect5/cat-lyuw.htm

yes, it really does look like that. Should we let it back out into the garden then? 

Alan Clark2 in Liverpool

I think it would be best to put it outside on a suitable food plant. The warmth of the house would cause it to develop too early.

Fairygirl

Smashing - great to get a positive ID. 
We get them here, but I've never seen the caterpillars. 

Maybe fancied what you were having for tea @jemimarose
Great for the kids though. Fingers crossed it does well.