How big do vine weevils grow ?

[British Red]

Could have been worse - I found two mouse nests in mine

 

[Toddy]

Maybe I ought to have asked, "How big do Oca grow ?", that you can have mice nesting in them

 

[British Red]

On the soil under the foliage

 

[Harvestman]

The ones I found didn't have those front legs though, or the hairs, it was very white, and the very rear end was dark too.....that's what made me first think it wasn't just an enormous vine weevil.
I think I'm wrong about the swift moth caterpillar then.

Thank you for helping

M

Hi Mary,

The third picture that you posted shows front legs. The forelegs are narrower than the false hind legs, and are easy to overlook, but I can see them in that shot. Swift moth looks like a good guess to me.

 

[Toddy]

I saw four pairs of pseudo leg thingies, but nothing defined like the legs in the David Kennard shot that BR posted.
No sharp insecty legs is what I mean. Caterpillar ones for the four pairs.

M

 

[Harvestman]

Ok, well you had the real thing, and I didn't.

 

[Toddy]

I've been looking at that third photo again, and I can see what you mean about legs at the head end.

Honestly Mike, they just did not register at all when the thing was wriggling about in front of me.



Back to the swift moth again ?

I have two more tubs to empty....a big bit of me is really hoping that they're clear of beasties, but on t'other hand I'd like to find another one and take more careful photographs too.

Thanks for the help

M

 

[Harvestman]

Here's hoping you don't find any.

 

[Blundstoned Love]

Sorry for the slow response - very busy (crazy) here and I couldn't find any of my pest reference books.

Getting to the point - Swift Moth caterpillar I reckon for sure.

Glad I didn't bet any money on it being a beetle grub - always good to learn something new though.