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no idea what gooseberry sawfly caterpillars look like, but he looks like a Chinese dragon!
has anyone seen one of these chaps before, and if so can someone please identify him for me?
he was on his own and hadn't done that much damage so I left him to it ::)

That's one funky caterpillar :)

Did a bit of a search because it reminded me of a red admiral but they're mainly black and less mohican.

Nearest I could spot was this

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/gallery/showimage.php?i=37120&c=23

- imagine the photo sideways on...

He's not a sawfly, they come in hundreds are much smaller and less conspicous.. probably a vaperour. (?)
:-\

That's a vapourer moth caterpillar, there's nothing like them.

You wouldn't believe that such a beautiful catapillar could turn in to such a drab moth.

http://webphotos12.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/page60vap.htm

thanks, everyone, for your help in identifying this little chap :)
it does seem a shame that he'll go from spectacular to rather ordinary... like the ugly duckling but in reverse!