A Very Hungry Caterpillar

ByDawn

Firstly, apologies again for the blog silence. A number of things have been holding me back recently, not least a bad shoulder injury. (Think: a dog, on lead, and a rabbit, with ‘Carry on dog walking’ style falling over due to the lead wrapped round my legs, all followed by a three hour visit to A & E, and you’ll get the idea.)

Much better now though, and as I was visiting the compost bin in the garden the other day, I realised there was something watching me… I did a double take in fact, as the creature perched on the plant next to the compost seemed to be watching me intently with large dark eyes. Only it wasn’t, it was quite happily munching away on the Great Willowherb, safe in the knowledge it’s olive green colouring and extraordinary markings would frighten me off. It did, but only for a few minutes as I went to grab the camera.

 

ElephantHawkmoth070914DM0641

This is an Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar, a rather spectacularly large (about 8cm long) animal that will, next spring, turn into a beautiful bright pink hawkmoth that will sip nectar from the honeysuckle flowers in the hedge.

There were 5 caterpillars in all, and they have now gradually started to move away to find a safe place on or under the soil to wrap themselves in a cocoon to overwinter, before emerging as moths when the weather warms up next year.

(Click images to view larger…)

If you like what you see, please consider sharing![social_share/]

BOB_Avatar

 

 

 

 

 

UK & Eire Natural History Bloggers

Current favourite books, click for more info:

Similar Posts

  • A Winter Visitor

    ByDawn

    Fieldfares are another one of my favourite birds. These gorgeous winter visitors come here from Scandinavia, presumably to escape the harsh winter weather. They flock together, feeding on windfall apples in the old orchard, conversing noisily with scolding chattering calls, unmistakeable with their beautiful slaty blue grey head, brown back, and cream speckled chest. This…

  • Fieldfare

    ByDawn

    Back in the orchard again today… (Click images to view larger…) If you like what you see, please consider sharing![social_share/]   Current favourite books, click for more info:

  • Where are they?

    ByDawn

    I was hoping for a Summer full of Turtle doves, but sightings have been few and far between. They are in real trouble, last years wet Summer meant a disastrous breeding season for them, and numbers are very low this year. Conservationists are concerned that this year could see the lowest numbers of Turtle doves…

  • Finally

    ByDawn

    Those who have followed my blog for sometime will remember that last year our garden was graced by the presence of a pair of Turtle doves. This year, as May approached, I waited with baited breath to see if they would return. They did, only to leave again for a while, perhaps just passing through….

  • Autumn Fen

    ByDawn

    A stunning morning on the Fen, a crisp frosty start and delicious golden light. The Konik ponies look so at home here, they were warming up in the sun at the edge of the wood. On in search of the Bearded Tits, but all was quiet in the reedbed. I can’t help feeling a bit…

  • Otters

    ByDawn

    Had a brilliant morning with the Otters, but first, a word to photographers planning to visit this location. If you are not aware of the Nature Photographers Code of Conduct, then please read it thoroughly HERE. This is the code of practice by which all nature photographers must abide, to protect the wildlife we love…

3 Comments

  2. Great photo Dawn (wish I could get such clear shots as that!). Funny how some of the best things we see start out as just out of the corner of our eyes as opposed to actually looking for something.

Leave a Reply