Caterpillars

On Blackthorn

Still looking for this after checking all the likely suspects on UKLeps site. About 3cm in length, found near scrub & Blackthorn. Update: Thanks to Denise at HantsMoths and her friend for the ID on this guy

Still looking for this after checking all the likely suspects on UKLeps site. About 3cm in length, found near scrub & Blackthorn. Update: Thanks to Denise at HantsMoths and her friend for the ID on this guy

This guy actually moulted while here, two nights later we found the casing.

When I was up at Sandwich Bay recently they had a load of Emperor Moth Caterpillars from eggs laid in the trap. So Liz and I each brought two home. This is what I hope is a female as she is big enough to eat the other one in one gulp nearly..lol They are probably at final instar and will pupate sometime soon, then need to be refrigerated for the winter. Brought back out around end of Feburary or begining of March and will hopefully emerge in April.

When I was up at Sandwich Bay recently they had a load of Emperor Moth Caterpillars from eggs laid in the trap. So Liz and I each brought two home. This one is much smaller but at the same instar so we'll see if he ever catches up with the other one. I'm hoping this means this is a male. They are probably at final instar and will pupate sometime soon, then need to be refrigerated for the winter. Brought back out around end of Feburary or begining of March and will hopefully emerge in April.

First instar of the fantastic moth, I was lucky enough to pick up a few caterpillars from a friend at Sandwich bay and mine are much bigger than these, probably 4th instar and a bit prettier if I do say so myself..lol