Caterpillar ID please

[PebbleP]

Can anyone identify this caterpillar for me?

It is about an inch long, and was found on damp heathland in Dorset.



I could not recognise it in my only caterpillar reference book - "A Field Guide to the Caterpillars of Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe" by DJ Carter and B Hargreaves, published 1986.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by PebbleP

Can anyone identify this caterpillar for me?

It is about an inch long, and was found on damp heathland in Dorset.



I could not recognise it in my only caterpillar reference book - "A Field Guide to the Caterpillars of Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe" by DJ Carter and B Hargreaves, published 1986.

I think it might be an early instar of Oak Egger?

Pauline

[Dogghound]

Yes an early Oak eggar Lasiocampa quercus, despite its name the species has nothing to do with oak, the food plants are mainly heathers, bilberry and various other plants like bramble. So habitat is right as well.

[PebbleP]

Pauline, Dogghound,
Thanks for your replies.

I would not have recognised the caterpillar as Oak Eggar from my field guide or from pictures found on the Internet. It's the blue colouring that confused me. Blue was evident in the live caterpillar, not just in the photo!

My field guide says "body dark brown to black, covered with tufts of brownish hairs". No mention of blue!

Do these caterpillars show blue when young, but change colour as they age?

Thanks again for your help.
PP

[Lance Morgan]

Yes this is second instar Oak eggar pre hibernation. The blue is very bright though on this picture. They do have blue on at this stage. Most books only show the mature stages of caterpillars..

[PebbleP]

Thanks Lance, very interesting. Caterpillar identification is clearly not easy for a novice if not just species but instar affects the look of the caterpillar.

PP

[The Black Rabbit]

What a marvellous caterpillar!
Thanks for that!
Its true - You learn something every day, eh?!
Doug