Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit  Hallo Shirley and Lance.
I've been very confused by a few similar-looking larvae recently.
What makes the one above a LARGE yellow underwing?
I've taken a shot of a large yellow underwing recently and its not quite like this - far more broken pattern, far less (obvious) uniform stripes. All my guides suggest the large yellow underwing larva is less striped than this. Are the Large Yellow Underwing caterpillars so variable in colour and/or markings AND the appearance of stripes also? Confused? I am!
I am interested to know why can't this (above) be a Lesser Yellow underwing or even a Square Spot Rustic?
These darned brown caterpillars doing ma heid in!
Thanks for any guidance in advance.
Doug
Edited- (a few minutes and a few books later!)
Ah. I see a difference between the three species now. (After a little more research). That may help my poor old eyes in future! |
Hi Doug, I am glad you have sorted your differences out!
Actually I am just learning as I go along aswell and things I often ID now I didn’t know a year ago when others ID’d them for me. I am OK when its things I have had in the garden myself – otherwise its books, asking and websites for me.
Talking of Large and lesser Yellow underwings – I didn’t realise there was a difference last year with the moths. I had named my moth photo’s as Large yellow Underwings , not realising the absence of the tell tell black spot on the bottom tips of the wings made them Lesser Yellow Underwings. I was dead chuffed to find this out and be able to add another moth to my list of visitors!
Shirley