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Caterpillar identification please


Clair
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In our garden, early April.

I think it's the only hawk moth with full protection in France, also the moth flies at dusk and not at night.

[IMG]http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q73/unautremonde/Oddments/Willowherb-hawk-moth_Proserpinus-pr.jpg[/IMG]

Chris

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So exciting to ever catch sight one of those creatures. I saw one of those caterpillars once too, different colouring, I remember it was very bright. But HUGE!!! It was in the middle of a very wild and dense area, but on the edge of a cultivated (bio) potato field.

What a treat1

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  • 3 weeks later...

Found this Death's head hawk moth caterpillar in the vegetable garden today, near the above ground potatoes.  I wonder if it is the same as the one you saw near a potato field 5-E? It is certainly big. I put the secateurs near to give an idea of size... about 10cm long I reckon.

[img]http://www.laviepyreneenne.com/img/death-head-hawk-moth.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.laviepyreneenne.com/img/deathsheadhawkmoth.jpg[/img] 

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That IS the one, Ame... I almost choked with excitement when I saw it - it was only the one time though.

I bet you must have been enthralled too - it is such an amazing sight, something you might expect in the tropics, not in good old Europe.

Hey, they do seem to like potatoes, don't they?

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Yes, definitely amazed 5-E. At first I thought it was a deflated balloon or some bit of child's toy, because the colours are so loud, I was amazed when it wriggled!  Had to stop weeding that area (any excuse!) and put some shady leaves over it... it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. 

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