Mystery Yellow Caterpillar ID

Dom Greves · #21 (**permalink**) 02-07-2010, 08:58 PM

An interesting development - I went back to the same spot yesterday and discovered thousands of Braconidae wasp eggs fastened to neighbouring grass stems across the valley:

If the caterpillar was indeed parasitised and became discoloured as a result then perhaps this creature was responsible.

Fascinating entry on parasitism in this wasp on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braconidae#Parasitism

posie · #22 (**permalink**) 08-07-2010, 08:39 AM

Hello Dom, have you found a definite ID yet?...Posie..

Dom Greves · #23 (**permalink**) 09-07-2010, 09:10 AM

Hi Posie. Well we have two suggestions from independent experts that it's most likely to be a sick or unusual yellow form of the Black Rustic so that's as positive an ID as we can expect to get I think. So Black Rustic it is!

posie · #24 (**permalink**) 09-07-2010, 09:32 AM

OK, Dom, thanks...Posie..

Hedera · #25 (**permalink**) 11-07-2010, 12:10 PM

Thank goodness for that! I bet you're pleased Dom. It was fascinating while it lasted. Never have so many.....

Dom Greves · #26 (**permalink**) 12-07-2010, 08:38 AM

Indeed. Thanks for all your help everyone!

bigdave60dog · #27 (**permalink**) 12-07-2010, 08:47 AM

By the size of its head and the slackness of skin I would guess that this has only just changed its skin so may look entirely differtent when hardened off a bit.
I will give it a proper looking at when I have a bit more time but by then you should have reliably +ve id
Dave