Strange caterpillar - anyone know what it is?

[Serial_Apologist]

Hi there, entomological experts!

We have large numbers of a very strange-looking caterpillar in our garden right now and for the past week.

It looks rather like a smaller version of the Lobster Moth larva, but without the "threatening" bent-up tail. I would describe it as slim, 3/4 of an inch in length, in colour dark brown regularly alternating dark orange markings the length of its body, and has two outstretched "feelers" at the front end, two more pointing out at 90 degrees halfway down each side of the body like stabilisers, and one which stands erect near the tail end. At the front end there are four pale yellow dorsal protrusions equispaced lying along the top of the body, resembling pollen on a bee's back.

I've looked in both my Observers' Books of insects and butterflies but could find nothing resembling this, apart from the much larger and fatter Lobster Moth larva.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

[visualnickmos]

Hi there, entomological experts!

We have large numbers of a very strange-looking caterpillar in our garden right now and for the past week.

It looks rather like a smaller version of the Lobster Moth larva, but without the "threatening" bent-up tail. I would describe it as slim, 3/4 of an inch in length, in colour dark brown regularly alternating dark orange markings the length of its body, and has two outstretched "feelers" at the front end, two more pointing out at 90 degrees halfway down each side of the body like stabilisers, and one which stands erect near the tail end. At the front end there are four pale yellow dorsal protrusions equispaced lying along the top of the body, resembling pollen on a bee's back.

I've looked in both my Observers' Books of insects and butterflies but could find nothing resembling this, apart from the much larger and fatter Lobster Moth larva.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Just sent you a PM about this - urgent!

[Richard Tarleton]

H S_A

Any chance of a photo?

Best bet would be to contact your local Wildlife Trust here http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/ and ask who the Butterfly and Moth Recorder for your area is, and ask them.

[umslopogaas]

Afraid I cant help, but if you or any of your friends are members of the Royal Horticultural Society, you could send the description, or better still a photo, to the RHS Advisory Service at Wisley Garden: the entomologists should be able to tell you what it is.

From the reference to an urgent PM above, it sounds as if it might be a pest, possibly a quarantine problem, so it is important to get it identified.

[Serial_Apologist]

Just sent you a PM about this - urgent!

V. much looking forward to its arrival!

[visualnickmos]

V. much looking forward to its arrival!

I'll try again!

[visualnickmos]

V. much looking forward to its arrival!

Just sent private message..... hope you receive it.

[Serial_Apologist]

Just sent private message..... hope you receive it.

Thanks VN - I'll look into this and let people know.

Edit - No, it's not the French Processionary Moth larva, which from pictures doesn't have the protuberances I described. But thanks for the alert!

[Richard Tarleton]

This is very worrying - don't keep us in suspense! I've googled "dangerous caterpillars" which gave me oak processionary caterpillars, but it's not them.

[Serial_Apologist]

This is very worrying - don't keep us in suspense! I've googled "dangerous caterpillars" which gave me oak processionary caterpillars, but it's not them.

Unfortunately I don't have a camera, Richard. Our two garden maintenance team has arrived and been showed some specimens; neither had seen anything like them before. They seem to like nestling in the folds of rose flower heads.

[visualnickmos]

Unfortunately I don't have a camera, Richard. Our two garden maintenance team has arrived and been showed some specimens; neither had seen anything like them before. They seem to like nestling in the folds of rose flower heads.

The French processionary moth is plaguing southern France, at the moment, and is highly poisonous even dogs and horses have been known to die from it, and for humans the skin and flesh conditions resulting from touching it are gruesome in the extreme, so I'm glad it's not that! But it would be worth getting that confirmed, perhaps? They could easily have got to England via the many tourists who drive down here from Britain. Whatever it turns out to be, best to get it 'looked at' I suppose...

[Serial_Apologist]

The French processionary moth is plaguing southern France, at the moment, and is highly poisonous even dogs and horses have been known to die from it, and for humans the skin and flesh conditions resulting from touching it are gruesome in the extreme, so I'm glad it's not that! But it would be worth getting that confirmed, perhaps? They could easily have got to England via the many tourists who drive down here from Britain. Whatever it turns out to be, best to get it 'looked at' I suppose...

By coincidence, a coach load of tourists has just now disgorged across the road from me!

They certainly can attach themselves to ones clothes, as I discovered in my kitchen yesterday after undertaking some pruning.

(My apologies, btw, for not receiving your earlier email, VN - I have now passed my currrent email address to ff.)

[umslopogaas]

Just done a bit of research, I wonder if these might be the caterpillars of the Grey Dagger Moth (Acronicta psi)? The description fits quite well. Try typing the Latin name into Google and see if the pictures match. If that's what they are, they dont seem to be particularly dangerous.

[Serial_Apologist]

Just done a bit of research, I wonder if these might be the caterpillars of the Grey Dagger Moth (Acronicta psi)? The description fits quite well. Try typing the Latin name into Google and see if the pictures match. If that's what they are, they dont seem to be particularly dangerous.

Not that one either! The one I'm interested in does have a vertical dorsal protrusion, but much near the rear end. The GDM also does not display the two outward pointing "feelers" at the front, nor the side ones; neither does it have the row of yellow growths along what would be the top of the spine, except as we know, caterpillars have no internal bone structure.

[oddoneout]

Peach Blossom Moth?