South African Hawkmoth caterpillars Sightings of two of the largest species of Hawkmoth caterpillar to be found in Africa have been received in the last few days. Dirk Kotze came across this Oleander Hawkmoth caterpillar, Daphnis nerii, at Little Falls … Read More
This photo of the caterpillar of Apochima flabellaria was received from Gordon Zammit in Malta. It’s an unusually spiky looking geometrid moth caterpillar with black outlined orange spiracules. Gordon found it feeding on cultivated broad beans not indigenous to Malta. … Read More
Fijian Hawkmoth caterpillars The Hawkmoth Cephonodes armatus is an endemic species to Fiji and The Mariana Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. These photographs of their boldly coloured caterpillars were received from Drew Bristow on Drawaqa Island, Fiji where an … Read More
Despite cold strong north easterlies at the weekend Marsh Fritillary caterpillars were stirring at a site in south west Cornwall. In brief spells of sunshine several webs of larvae appeared on the surface of a sheltered coastal bank. Hopefully there … Read More
A moth from the middle of the South Atlantic An interesting identification query recently arrived from the remote little island of St Helena, in the middle of the South Atlantic. The photo of a green larva (caterpillar) was sent in … Read More
Red Admiral and Silver Y caterpillars overwintering in Cornwall UK Three Red Admiral butterfly caterpillars, Venessa atalanta, and one Silver Y moth caterpillar, Autographa gamma, were found on nettles alongside the Helford Estuary in Cornwall on the 30th of January. … Read More
Black and white striped caterpillar Ask a child to draw a caterpillar and they may well come up with one that looks like this. But these caterpillars with bold black and creamy white stripes, long whispy black tail horn, orange … Read More
This photo of a Silver-striped Hawkmoth caterpillar, Hippotium celerio, was received by email on Christmas Day from Julie Dawson. Julie was in mountains near Frigiliana in Andalusia in Southern Spain walking her dog when – ‘I came across the most … Read More
Cornwall may be buried in winter gales but a touch or warmth is received daily in the form of emailed photos of stunning caterpillars from much warmer climates. In the last few days alone some fascinating photos of caterpillars from … Read More
While enjoying the sunshine at the National Trust managed Kynance Cove on the Lizard this Painted Lady butterfly was warming up on the rocks nearby. There doesn’t seem to have been so many this year although we have found a … Read More
It may be unseasonably mild here in Cornwall but the rain and strong winds don’t exactly inspire one to get out. At times like this thoughts turn to past sunny holidays abroad. One of our most memorable one was to … Read More
This Unarmed Stick-insect,Acanthoxyla inermis, found on the 12th October is only the 2nd in the garden this year. In past years they’ve been found in all parts of the garden and even turned up in first floor bedrooms as winter … Read More