what is this catterpillar
Location: leicester england
September 6, 2010 5:33 am
my mum has found two of these in her garden can u tell us what they are?
Signature: lizziep
Hi lizziep,
We have received several requests to identify the Caterpillar of the Elephant Hawkmoth, Deilephila elpenor, in the past few weeks. According to the UK Moths website: “The English name of this moth is derived from the caterpillar’s fanciful resemblance to an elephant’s trunk” and “It is a common species in most of Britain, including Scotland, where it has increased its range in recent years.”
I didn’t think that there were any more larvae. I presumed that they had turned into pupae because last time i saw larvae was in the beginning of august. Truly interesting.
We also got some blurry submissions that did not get posted to the website.
I was walking home today and I found a fully grown Elephant Hawkmoth larvae. That was surprising.
THEY SURE LOOK JUST LIKE THE PICTURES. THE GREEN ONE GOT REALLY BIG. I WOLUD GO OUT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY AND RUB THEIR BACKS BUT THEY WOULD DISAPPEAR IN THE AFTERNOON. I WENT OUT YESTERDAY IN THE EARLY MORNING
AND COULDN’T FIND THEM. BUT I NEVER SEE THEM FLYING. THEY ARE SO PRETTY WITH THE BIG EYES THERE IS ONLY THREE OR FOUR A YEAR. I TOOK A PICTURE BUT I AM NOT GOOD SENDING THINGS OVER THE COMPUTER. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP