Caterpillar ID please? (2 Viewers)

[timdevon]

I just found this guy on some carrot leaves I brought indoors a few weeks ago. I am in Devon.

http://stator.me.uk/cat.png

Normally I would keep him in a tiny vivarium until he becomes a moth or butterfly and then release him. But I suspect if I do that it will be in the middle of winter and so not a good idea.

Need to know what species he is so I know if they winter in pupate form or as catterpillars, if or where I can put him outside.

I can't find anything that looks like him online.

Any help welcome

 

[KC Foggin]

Could it possibly be and Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar?

 

[timdevon]

Thanks for the quick reply.
He doesn't have any "horns" which appear on the catterpillars of the Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar photo's I've seen

 

[timdevon]

I think it might be in the family Agonopterix .
Just Seen a photo of a green Agonopterix heracliana that isn't a million miles away.

 

[dantheman]

Flight Arrivals - Norfolk Moths

Flight Arrivals - The Moths of Norfolk. In association with the Norfolk Moth Survey.

www.norfolkmoths.co.uk

Crawling tonight is a useful page, try for Nov and Dec generally too perhaps. Plenty of caterpillars around the moth trap (more than moths!) so don't think they have a problem with winter ...

 

[timdevon]

Cool site

I think he looks a bit like this guy, Euplexia lucipara Small Angle Shades

Although that species doesn't eat carrots, I have some oak saplings growing nearby. Do moths ever lay eggs in acorns?

 

[timdevon]

Unfortunately I lost track of him when he went into a pupa and now he has come out in January