Huge lime green caterpillar

[-pat m]

Huge lime green caterpillar on my spring cabbage this morning (in my poly tunnel) - I noticed it while watering - 3.5 cm and very fat! I got the plants from my father in law last October and squashed the dark green ones that I found back then - do you think this is one I missed or something new - Lime green and did say HUGE- it took two goes to squash
Any bigger and I would have had to wrestle t off the plant.

Regards

Pat

[Two_Sheds]

Probably Small Cabbage White - http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/speci...g-08%20(1).jpg

the large cabbage white is the one most often seen (their camouflage ain't so good)

[onefivenine]

Sounds like one of these maybe? This thing appeared from nowhere on the side of my growhouse.

[-pat m]

Sounds like one of these maybe? This thing appeared from nowhere on the side of my growhouse.

Thats the one! I was working for home today and spent my entire lunch break looking for more but I didn't find anymore thank goodness - It was just the size of it!!!


Thanks

Pat

[Capsid]

If it's really large then it could be a hawk moth caterpillar, like this?

http://accipiter.hawk-conservancy.or...head%20up1.jpg

[-pat m]

If it's really large then it could be a hawk moth caterpillar, like this?

http://accipiter.hawk-conservancy.or...head%20up1.jpg

LOL not quiet - I think I was a little hysterical seeing a caterpillar in March

[Eyren]

My money is on the Angle Shades moth - the caterpillars overwinter and will feed whenever temperatures get above 5 degrees C.

Royal Horticultural Society - Advice: Angle Shades Moth

P.S. 3.5cm isn't huge - you should see hawkmoth caterpillars, they're as big as your middle finger!

[-pat m]

I thought I found another this morning (I read the post about them coming out at night) but it turned out to be the one I squashed yesterday I will need my trolley to remove it from the poly tunnel

Regards and thanks for your comments

pat

[Eyren]

I will need my trolley to remove it from the poly tunnel

How big is it, Pat???

[-pat m]

In my dreams it is about 14 stone and 6ft 7

But I think it is about 3 ½ cm long… A bit like man flu I guess!

Pat

[RedThorn]

lol Pat google Mopani worms
Gonimbrasia belina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Victoria26]

I love butterflys but im afraid ive been binning any caterpillars im finding.

I'm all itchy now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rogesse]

I find these often and we have a lot of surrounding Lime trees (not citrus type) - lime hawk moth?

[-pat m]

Well it’s 6 am and that inconvenience called work is making me go into the office today so I am just off to the poly tunnel to hunt caterpillars – I will be taking:

Goggles
Sturdy torch
Large Hessian sacks
Ropes

I have left instructions with Mrs M as to where I am going and If I am not back by 06:30 she will be phoning the rescue service to save me as I will have succumbed to Gigantigus cattipillirus

Regards

Pat