Topic: caterpillar

[shirlton]

Does anyone have any idea what this caterpillar is, I thought it was the gypsy moth but the colour is wrong

[Georgie]

Large white I'd say.  How big are they and what are they eating?

G x

[shirlton]

they are longer than my little finger and they are on a weeping birch. there are about ten of them

[Robert_Brenchley]

It does look like Large White, but it's too big and on the wrong plant. I'll keep looking.

[shirlton]

cheers Bob

[Georgie]

Large whites are about 4 cm long so unless you have very small hands it looks like I'm wrong!   ;)

G x

[mikedhart]

the pictures look like the caterpillar of the buff tip moth about 60mm long, poisonous and have an unpleasant smell - they feed on a wide range deciduous trees.

Mike

[mikedhart]

not sure wether my last uploaded - they are the caterpillar of the buff moth -60mm long feed on many deciduous trees - july to oct poisonous and give of a foul smell.

Mike

[wahaj]

*runs and hides* kill it kill it kill it!!!!!!

[Robert_Brenchley]

I think you're right. My book doesn't list it as feeding on birch, which is why I missed it earlier.

[shirlton]

 Yes its the buff tip moth alright, have just looked on google. I oicked one up and put it back on the tree cos it had fallen off. Only poison if you try to eat it I suppose. I said to Tony it was strange that the birds had'nt eaten them