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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
Members: 50,133
Threads: 82,290
Posts: 852,849
Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, while | |  | | 
11-06-2010, 02:18 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 44
| | | Mystery Yellow Caterpillar ID
Hello. I've searched through all the books and consulted various local experts. I even submitted it to Butterfly Conservation, but nobody has a clue what this yellow caterpillar might be: 
I also shot some video: http://www.vimeo.com/12359960
It was about 3 inches long on calcareous grassland in Purbeck, Dorset, UK.
Last edited by Dom Greves; 11-06-2010 at 02:27 PM.
|
11-06-2010, 08:36 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 44
| | | Re: Mystery Yellow Caterpillar ID
Another shot showing the full insect:  |
14-06-2010, 08:17 AM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 44
| | | Re: Mystery Yellow Caterpillar ID
Not having much luck with this. Definitely a moth caterpillar I think. Closest match appears to be Swift Moth but quite different colouring and much more pronounced spots on the flanks. Any ideas? |
16-06-2010, 04:08 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 2,754
| | | Re: Mystery Yellow Caterpillar ID
Why are the ants so interested? I know they "cultivate" some larvae underground but can't remember the species. Perhaps this one is ready to pupate and has come out for air?
__________________
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. (Shakespeare) |
17-06-2010, 07:32 AM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 44
| | | Re: Mystery Yellow Caterpillar ID
It was atop an ant mound but I couldn't tell whether their behaviour was aggressive or had some other purpose. The caterpillar did seem to have the remains of an ant trapped between its jaws however. |
18-06-2010, 11:06 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 2,754
| | | Re: Mystery Yellow Caterpillar ID
Google "Killer caterpillars". Seems somewhat likely?
__________________
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. (Shakespeare) |
21-06-2010, 05:51 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 44
| | | Re: Mystery Yellow Caterpillar ID
Still not having any luck with this. Anyone? |
21-06-2010, 10:04 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 32
| | | Re: Mystery Yellow Caterpillar ID
Fascinating video, the Blues have a relationship with ants but doesn't look like any of those.
Have you tried www.ukbutterflies.co.uk they're pretty good on there. I'm intrigues myself now |
22-06-2010, 03:35 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 44
| | | Re: Mystery Yellow Caterpillar ID
I emailed the chap at ukbutterflies and he didn't know what it was but will try their forums. I posted it to the Natural History Museum's ID forum also but no responses there as yet. |
24-06-2010, 10:27 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 44
| | | Re: Mystery Yellow Caterpillar ID
I've pretty much exhausted all avenues now and I'm none the wiser. Can anyone suggest any last-ditch options? Shall I just name this new species myself?  | | | |
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