Look at this.........

[Storming Norman]

Hi All,

I had to show you what I found in the apple tree today.

Yuk!

What sort of enormous caterpillar is this then? I bet it is a pest of some sort.

OH insisted I let it go - he said it was a moth - I just asked how big can they get in the UK.

It's been an odd week.

Ann

[Capsid]

Looks like a privet hawk moth caterpillar. Not a pest if it is.

[SMS6]

Yep we had them last year and that's what we decided they were

[Redpepper]

i'm sure he'll turn into a beautiful beastie soon enough

[digthatchick]

Looks lovely - this is what it will turn into -

[Storming Norman]

Well that is pretty.

Why was he in the top of the apple tree then? it's not their food source.

I wonder if it's not something slightly different. Having looked a few up on the internet now I have a name the head is a little different - see this picture - its like a sort of flat shield.

Ann

[SMS6]

Believe me it will munch away on your apple leaves quite happily - also look through the tree very carefully because we found more than one

[julesapple]

Found a moth....

...well, #1 son found it. It scared the bejesus out of him, he said it sounded like a war plane.

I didn't take a picture, but it was the size of the one in the photo, but it was bright pink and emerald green. Very beautiful indeed.

Does anyone know what type it was?

Jules

[Storming Norman]

It was a big scare for me as well - I was up a ladder when it fell out of the tree and on me- I think the next road heard the scream.

Not sure I want to find any more in this way. I might just keep away from the tree for a few weeks.

Ann

[sqweek01]

I got an odd surprise last year when my cat brought in a huge caterpillar. It was about four inches long, mostly green and had a head a bit like an alien.

I'd never seen a caterpillar so big, it turned out to a Hawkmoth.

Regards

Clare

[rustylady]

Hawkmoth caterpillars are spectacular, aren't they. Much better than cabbage whites.

[Pumpkin Becki]

it was bright pink and emerald green. Very beautiful indeed.

Does anyone know what type it was?

Jules

Jules, yours sounds like an Elephant Hawk Moth, they love fuschias.