the online meeting place for all who love our amphibians and reptiles
Home Page Live Forums Archived Forums Site Search Identify Record Donate Projects Links
Forum Home Forum Home > General > What is it?
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Caterpillar
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Caterpillar

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
tim-f View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 13 Apr 2008
Location: Bristol, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 208
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tim-f Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Caterpillar
    Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 9:35pm
On Lundy, 16 June 2012.  Maybe 50mm long.  Any ideas?



Back to Top
Iowarth View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 12 Apr 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 743
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Iowarth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 10:41pm

Looks to me like a Greater Mythical Invisible Moth caterpillar - although I might manage a better guess with a picture! Smile

Chris

Chris Davis, Site Administrator

Co-ordinator, Sand Lizard Captive Breeding Programme (RETIRED)
Back to Top
tim-f View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 13 Apr 2008
Location: Bristol, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 208
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tim-f Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 10:57pm
I thought you might be up for a challenge.  Here's a little clue.


Back to Top
GemmaJF View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jan 2003
Location: Essex
Status: Offline
Points: 4359
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GemmaJF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 11:24pm
I'm no entomologist but it looks like a Fox Moth Caterpillar, a quick google confirmed they are found on Lundy.
Back to Top
tim-f View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 13 Apr 2008
Location: Bristol, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 208
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tim-f Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 11:59pm
Thanks Gemma.  They feed on heather, which was present, so looks likely.

Back to Top
Noodles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 05 Dec 2010
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 534
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Noodles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 2012 at 10:01am
It's actually an Oak Eggar, which is superficially similar to the Fox moth; the latter lacking the white lateral markings. They also share the same heathland habitats, feeding on heathers as well as a variety of more widespread plant species (unlike the Fox).
Back to Top
GemmaJF View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jan 2003
Location: Essex
Status: Offline
Points: 4359
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GemmaJF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 2012 at 4:24pm
Nice one Noodles, I wasn't entirely convinced it was a Fox moth caterpillar, nice to know what it actually is. Thumbs Up
Back to Top
Noodles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 05 Dec 2010
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 534
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Noodles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 8:22am
Just don't pick either up unless you want itchy hands for a couple of days!
Back to Top
Suzy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1447
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Suzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 3:48pm
Is the oak egger a day flying moth that tends to have large hatches on the wing at once over heathland? I once witnessed the amazing sight of four hobbies hunting them down. There were hundreds of the moths on the wing at once and i guess that attracted the hawks. We just stood still and it was going on all around us and then suddenly the moths had all gone and so had the hobbies. One of those amazing things you see when out and about. So amazing I can't remember the moths' name but I think Oak Eggers!
Suz
Back to Top
Noodles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 05 Dec 2010
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 534
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Noodles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 4:39pm
OE can be seen in the day flying fast (and zig zaggy) above the heather.  There are also several other day flying moorland moth species of similar size but O Eggars would be a good bet (also Emperor or possibly Tiger moth species).  Male Fox moths are more elusive and would tend not to be seen in numbers i would suggest. However, i'd not be surprised if hobbies took them all. Anyhow, it sounds like a great event you witnessed. OE is so named because it's cocoon resembles a detached acorn and typically only the male of all the above species fly during the day.

Plenty of classic aircraft names in there eh Gemma? The Oak Eggar aircraft  would not have had a pleasing ring to it, i suspect. 
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.06
Copyright ©2001-2016 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.109 seconds.