Caterpillar

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les
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Caterpillar

Post by les »

I found this creature today on the pavement, I put it somewhere safe. It will become a Vine hawk moth.
What a beauty!
FF9795C9-ED6A-4852-BEC1-54539D7DFDAA.jpeg
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philthehill
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by philthehill »


les
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by les »

Yes Phil, I was surprised after doing some research, that the species found its way from hotter climates. I think I have seen the actual moth before with pink areas on its body. It makes me think about life. Why would anyone want to destroy it. Further info from an organisation I contacted earlier, and have just received, suggests it may in fact be an Elephant hawk moth caterpillar, which resembles an elephants trunk. Both caterpillars are quite similar.

SteveClem
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by SteveClem »

I think that the mock eye spots are to make it look like a snake, to deter predators. Nature is quite amazing.
StillGotMy1stCar
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by StillGotMy1stCar »

Snap!
Taken last year almost to the day. I added a tape measure for scale.
P1020034 (1024x768).jpg
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Coincidentally I have only ever taken one photo of a moth and that was 40 years ago and it was a lovely pink Hawk Moth.
Regards John
irmscher
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by irmscher »

I would love to see it evolve into a moth.
les
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by les »

Well would you believe it ! Thanks for posting John, made my day. :D
A moth emerging, yes an incredible thing.

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geoberni
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by geoberni »

The only time I've seen one of those was about 5-6 yrs ago, it was on the plants in my pond. No sign of it the next day, perhaps it became a snack...
Huge thing, size of a man's finger.
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irmscher
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by irmscher »

Les a moth emerging where :-?
Nickol
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by Nickol »

I have not seen one this year but in the last few years our garden here in central Germany has been visited by what Looks like a small hummingbird but is in fact an insect which normally lives in southern Europe but when the weather is warm enough, sometimes get across the alps. I did take a Picture but cannot find it at the Moment - later perhaps.
Gott schütze mich vorm Sturm und Wind und Autos, die aus England sind.
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panky
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by panky »

Sounds like a humming bird hawk moth, we had one sipping from a lavender plant early in the summer - in the Northwest of England :) I took a short video, I'll see if I can post it.
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panky
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by panky »

Not very clear as shot through the french windows on my phone, but there it is. Can't embed the vid so here's the link.

https://i.imgur.com/tGyVWaM.mp4
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Plin
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by Plin »

:D Wow what lovely photos and video captures of natures beauties. The caterpillars are marvellous but the little insect resembling a humming bird is awesome. Thanks for posting them.
les
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by les »

It captures nature doing its own thing, nice to see, I didn’t realise there was a moth that could hover like that. So many species to wonder at, all have their place and interact to help the planet survive. Pity we can’t join them.

StillGotMy1stCar
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by StillGotMy1stCar »

Amazing, just like a mini humming bird, thanks for posting that Mr Attenborough, oops I mean Panky
irmscher
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by irmscher »

That's a brilliant video and a lovely creature :)
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Re: Caterpillar

Post by panky »

It's amazing what a slightly wild garden with a variety of flowers and a pond attracts. Make your own micro ecosystem and sit back to watch. Sometimes quite scary as well, like the time a female sparrow hawk took a wood pigeon off the garage roof and crash landed right in front of the wife :o
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