VicW Posted August 6, 2020 Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 What's this beast, it doesn't look very friendly. Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted August 6, 2020 Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 (edited) Methinks it's a Puss Moth caterpillar 😉 Looks are to deter predators but to people called Vic it's harmless 😊 Edited August 6, 2020 by JKD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 6, 2020 Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 Looks like a Hawk moth, possibly elephant, do you have a side on shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicW Posted August 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 Sorry that's the only pic that I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 6, 2020 Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 I thought the Puss Moth was green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted August 6, 2020 Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tLP1TcwKssryC4zYPQSLSgtLlbIzS_JUEhOLEktKsjMyUksAgDPzAxd&q=puss+moth+caterpillar&oq=puss+moth+cat&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j46j0l2.10763j0j4&client=ms-android-ee-uk-revc&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8 Hopefully link attached. TBH the OP's picture doesn't show it in its true colours 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted August 6, 2020 Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 46 minutes ago, JKD said: Methinks it's a Puss Moth caterpillar 😉 Looks are to deter predators but to people called Vic it's harmless 😊 Yep looks just like and by the colour is about to pupate. They are fantastic being about 2 inches ong and bright green and when touched their heads expand with the bright red face. Used to have hundreds when i first planted my poplar wood 20yrs ago. They build an igloo out of spit and chewd up wood on the side of a tree which goes rock hard. Then in the spring the moth will cut its way out with a special 'tool' on its abdomen. I did rear some in captivity back then and put the piece of wood with the igloos on out in the garden, I did see one of them emerge. 26 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: I thought the Puss Moth was green. Yes they are but when about to pupate the colour darkens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted August 6, 2020 Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 20 minutes ago, Walker570 said: Yep looks just like and by the colour is about to pupate. They are fantastic being about 2 inches ong and bright green and when touched their heads expand with the bright red face. Used to have hundreds when i first planted my poplar wood 20yrs ago. They build an igloo out of spit and chewd up wood on the side of a tree which goes rock hard. Then in the spring the moth will cut its way out with a special 'tool' on its abdomen. I did rear some in captivity back then and put the piece of wood with the igloos on out in the garden, I did see one of them emerge. Yes they are but when about to pupate the colour darkens. Don't think I've ever seen one TBH 🙁 seen lots of other "bugs" /caterpillars, but don't see the amount now that I saw even 20yrs ago,,,, big shame 😕 These sort of things I find really interesting because of the change/metamorphosis they go through,,,, dragon/damselflies are amazing !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted August 6, 2020 Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 When you see something as spectacular as the caterpillar you expect the same to emerge but in fact the puss moth is quite bland speckled white. My wife had a summer music school meet at our home when the poplars where just about 8ft high and I challenged the kids to see how many caterpillars they could find. Thinking maybe a dozen, the winner had over 100. I had to quickly find some jam jars as they all wanted to take one home much to the disgust of their mothers. I insisted they studied them and when they made their igloo they put that piece of wood outside so the moth could escape. We put poplar leaves in the jars and a piece of bark. I did the same and mine produced two igloos and both emerged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted August 6, 2020 Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 My daughter was given Caterpillars last year or the year before for her birthday, along with a little enclosure, we've got more each year, great for the kids to watch them pupate and then release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted August 6, 2020 Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 10 minutes ago, Mice! said: My daughter was given Caterpillars last year or the year before for her birthday, along with a little enclosure, we've got more each year, great for the kids to watch them pupate and then release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicW Posted August 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 Many thanks for all the helpful replies. Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatureBoy Posted August 6, 2020 Report Share Posted August 6, 2020 2 hours ago, Walker570 said: When you see something as spectacular as the caterpillar you expect the same to emerge but in fact the puss moth is quite bland speckled white. My wife had a summer music school meet at our home when the poplars where just about 8ft high and I challenged the kids to see how many caterpillars they could find. Thinking maybe a dozen, the winner had over 100. I had to quickly find some jam jars as they all wanted to take one home much to the disgust of their mothers. I insisted they studied them and when they made their igloo they put that piece of wood outside so the moth could escape. We put poplar leaves in the jars and a piece of bark. I did the same and mine produced two igloos and both emerged. Great story Walker. 😉 👍 NB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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