Caterpillar to Identify Please

[Loirette]

Hello

I have found a caterpillar in the garden and am not sure what it is, or if it's friend or foe!

Can anyone tell me from these photos please?

[IMG]http://pagesperso-orange.fr/stephen.irons/Caterpillar1[/IMG]

[IMG]http://pagesperso-orange.fr/stephen.irons/Caterpillar2[/IMG]

Thank you.

 

[Phil & Pat]

Possibly a Garden Tiger moth caterpillar.  Have you seen the moths in your garden?  They are quite distinctive.

[Loirette]

Thanks Phil  & Pat for the info.

We think we may have seen a Garden Tiger in the garden but they don't stay still enough in the dark to be certain!  We have definately seen Jersey Tigers, which fly during the day but their caterpillars are not as hairy.  Since moving to France we have seen a lot more butterflies and moths and are still working hard at identifying those that we didn't see in England.  So thanks once again.

[Catalpa]

Good caterpillar identification site - the "plates" are very helpful... unless you're on dialup.

http://www.whatsthatcaterpillar.co.uk/

[Loirette]

Excellent. Thanks.

[plod]

I found a whopper yesterday scoffing my aubergines - it was a Death's Head Hawk, about the size of my middle finger.