I found this rather fat green caterpillar in one of my gardening gloves when I put it on this afternoon! I think it's Angle Shades? Was it thinking of pupating there I wonder?
Hi Phil, It looks similar to one I found decimating a large Mullein in my garden and also concluded was an Angle Shades. The broken dorsal line and some evidence of brownish diagonal stripes along the sides suggest this, although it may need to develop a bit more to be sure. There should also be a pale sub-spiracular line which can't be seen on your photos (the excellent Field Guide of Henwood et al. shows that the Small Angle Shades looks similar, but has a humped white-spotted abdominal segment 8). I'm intrigued by the black-lined feet (?) in your second photo which don't seem to show up in my photos or other illustrations?
Thanks for that John. The other possibility I came up with was Large Yellow Underwing, but on balance decided it was probably Angle Shades--I've had a good number in the garden this year. I find it hard enough identifying adult moths so tend to shy away from caterpillars, but it's hard to resist the temptation to put a name to something, so I think I'll have to invest in the Field Guide...
Hi Phil, It looks similar to one I found decimating a large Mullein in my garden and also concluded was an Angle Shades. The broken dorsal line and some evidence of brownish diagonal stripes along the sides suggest this, although it may need to develop a bit more to be sure. There should also be a pale sub-spiracular line which can't be seen on your photos (the excellent Field Guide of Henwood et al. shows that the Small Angle Shades looks similar, but has a humped white-spotted abdominal segment 8). I'm intrigued by the black-lined feet (?) in your second photo which don't seem to show up in my photos or other illustrations?
ReplyDeleteThanks for that John. The other possibility I came up with was Large Yellow Underwing, but on balance decided it was probably Angle Shades--I've had a good number in the garden this year.
ReplyDeleteI find it hard enough identifying adult moths so tend to shy away from caterpillars, but it's hard to resist the temptation to put a name to something, so I think I'll have to invest in the Field Guide...
The late Reg Fry's website is still up and running, you can also try that? http://www.ukleps.org/
ReplyDelete