today has been a day of finding caterpillars in the garden. isn't this one just gorgeous, very easy to identify from our guide as a large white.
this one is proving harder to identify. perhaps it is a smaller version of the above. it was so very spiky, like a punk caterpillar. it had a very cute face according to my youngest daughter.
a close up of the spiky punk caterpillar.
is it also a large white, but if so why so hairy? i have googled but cannot find anything that looks like it.
i would love to know what you think it might be.
I can't help I'm afraid but do agree it's very cute! :D
Posted by: Mousy Brown | September 10, 2012 at 12:55
Hi,
Caterpillars are very difficult to ID unless it's obvious what type they are. However usually the very fluffy ones like this are Moths - be careful though as those spines can iritate the skin and are meant as a deterrant to predators!
Also, many can look different from one instar to the next. I've had a general look for the ID of this but found nothing obvious.
Moth cats can be very interesting and then turn into otherwise drab adults - search for vapourer moth as an example!
Posted by: Liz | September 10, 2012 at 22:16
Alas, I'll be of no help, I'm not a caterpillar expert :( I hope someone will be able to help you though. Like Emily, I think it's a Cute Caterpillar ;-) oxox
Posted by: Sonia | September 11, 2012 at 08:50
I seem to have hundreds of the large white caterpillar at my allotment, they have desecrated nearly the entire crop of brussels and cabbages but now they have begun to pupate they have made the most beautiful cabbage white butterflies, im glad we decided to keep them and not kill them off, and now the brussels have started to perk up a bit! It's sometimes worth giving nature a chance :)
Gem
x
Posted by: gemma | September 20, 2012 at 09:40
I don't know what it is, Ginny, but it could be a moth. I think - though maybe I've imagined this! - that moth caterpillars can be more dramatic in their looks than butterflies ??
We've had a great summer with the cabbage white caterpillars and butterflies. We intentionally grew a big 'hedge' of nasturtiums for them to live on - oh, and they did! They totally devoured the plants! Now we have chrysalids and butterflies everywhere - magical !
Happy days to you!
x
Posted by: josie crafter at Homemade and Happy | September 22, 2012 at 20:46