Caterpillar ID

[Quixoticgeek]

Any ideas what this caterpilla is? Found it on an Oak tree this afternoon.

J

 

[cranmere]

I have no idea! But if anyone knows a book that shows caterpillers I'd be interested.

 

[mick91]

Looks almost like a cinnabar moth caterpillar but not enough yellow I don't think, and they tend to live on or very near ragwort as opposed to oak. Harvestman might know

 

[21st century pict]

Fox Moth caterpillar Macrothylacia rubi perhaps.

 

[Harvestman]

Fox Moth caterpillar Macrothylacia rubi perhaps.

Spot on. Early instar Fox moth larva.
http://ukmoths.org.uk/species/macrothylacia-rubi/early-instar-larva/

 

[mousey]

I remember picking up a caterpillar which looked like that when I was a child, it threw up a purpley substance over my hand - I put it down quite quickly after that!

 

[Harvestman]

I remember picking up a caterpillar which looked like that when I was a child, it threw up a purpley substance over my hand - I put it down quite quickly after that!

Which is why it did it!