Unusual caterpillar found in Clifton Moor (From York Press)
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Elephant hawk moth caterpillar found in Clifton Moor
9:47am Friday 7th September 2012 in News
The elephant hawk moth caterpillar
YORK residents should keep their eyes open for a bright pink and green moth after this unusual caterpillar was found at Clifton Moor .
John Slingsby found this three-inch long elephant hawk moth caterpillar on his Virginia creeper shrub in his garden.
He said: “We just didn’t know what it was, or whether it was a slug or a caterpillar.”
The caterpillar had large markings that looked like eyes at one end and at the other end, its form tapered to look like an elephant’s trunk.
Mr Slingsby took a photograph to the Yorkshire Museum where Stuart Ogilvy, the assistant curator of natural sciences, identified the caterpillar.
He said it was “a fantastic caterpillar and the first one I have had this year to identify”.
He said elephant hawk moths were very strong fliers and liked nectar from honeysuckle and buddleia, while the caterpillars like to feed on Rosebay willowherb in the wild and fuchsia in gardens.
Comments(6)
MrsHoney
says...
12:47pm Fri 7 Sep 12
YorkPatrol
says...
2:57pm Fri 7 Sep 12
MrsHoney wrote:Wicked.. thanks for sharing that
I get these in my garden every year, I saw 3 the other week doing a good job of munching up the willowherb.
pedalling paul
says...
8:38pm Fri 7 Sep 12
MrsHoney wrote:Do you know of any aquatic versions that will much up the green gunge in the garden pond at PP Towers.
I get these in my garden every year, I saw 3 the other week doing a good job of munching up the willowherb.
Magicman!
says...
2:38am Sun 9 Sep 12
Mrs Maniac
says...
10:12pm Sun 9 Sep 12
Blimp says...
9:52am Fri 7 Sep 12
Brilliant, love it! More please.