wonderful caterpillar

[twisted firestarter]

Found this little critter whilst taking down the bell tent this morning. I don't think I've ever seen such a colourful caterpillar, the lower image shows how vibrant it was. Haven't looked it up yet but no doubt someone out there will know what it is

 

[JonnyP]

Thats a nice one, no idea what it is but can find out if no one else knows....

 

[Toddy]

I think it's a moth caterpillar called acronicta aceris and it feeds on sycamores, chestnuts and the like.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

That's cool, excellent stuff. I found a hairy one on the Lairig Grhu a few weeks ago.

Nick

 

[commandocal]

what gel does it use? wish my hair would go that spikey! but yes a colourful critter indeed this guy in between then the rule doesnt apply to this guy - black on yellow, not a friendly fellow, black on red friend of ted? is that right?

 

[JonnyP]

Well done Toddy, I asked a moth expert this morning and he said sycamore moth... http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1064

 

[twisted firestarter]

Thanks for the I.D. folks.
It reminds me of Vivian from The Young Ones

 

[Toddy]

It's my bother's fault
My Dad was having conniption fits about the sheer variety of caterpillars that were munching his tom thumbs one year.....little did he know that the other Toddy (aged all of about seven) had taken himself off over the burn and had been unable to resist bring home one of *every* kind of caterpillar he could find. It was a beautiful shallow loch over from the burn and it was surrounded by the most amazing variety of wildlife and woodlands. Toddy found about fifty different beasties that day, brought them home and let them loose in dad's pristine garden By the time Dad worked out what they all were, we had gotten pretty good at recognising caterpillars Forty years later it seems some of it's stuck in the memory I remember the name from nicotine yellow

It's an incredible looking one though, the sycamore, isn't it?

cheers,
Toddy