Unidentified Caterpillar

jdoherty · #1 (**permalink**) 15-09-2008, 05:51 PM

I took this photo in Sept 2008 when walking on Carnmoney Hill, Newtownabbey. It was feeding on bramble leaves and was very small - about 12mm in length. ID anyone?

Thanks, John.

petereeles · #2 (**permalink**) 15-09-2008, 06:03 PM

Hi John,

This is a sawfly larva.

Cheers,

- Pete

poschiavanus · #3 (**permalink**) 15-09-2008, 06:09 PM

I think this may be a sawfly in the genus Arge.

poschiavanus · #4 (**permalink**) 15-09-2008, 06:25 PM

The closest I get is Arge gracilicornis, although A. berberidis is similar, it has not yet reached Northern Ireland, and has not been recorded on Rubus.

Characters I'm using: dark head, 3 annulets a segment, the annulets with 3 pairs of dark stigma with setae, yellow patch on each segment, dark stigma above legs and prolegs, 1st thoracic segment yellow, true (thoracic) legs with 5 or 6 segments.

HTH,

poschiavanus