ID for a caterpillar?

jeremiah · #1 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 11:10 PM

Can anyone identify this caterpillar, please?

I saw it at Dungeness RSPB reserve on 13th October 2008.
It was coming down a bank.

I could see it had a reddish/brownish/orange head, but no other obvious markings.

It was moving really fast. The overall impression was black, hairy and in a hurry.
I think it was a little over an inch long.

Lance Morgan · #2 (**permalink**) 15-10-2008, 09:10 AM

Its a Ruby or Garden Tiger (moth).

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 15-10-2008, 05:41 PM

The orange head and black body are firm indicators its a Garden Tiger Moth Arctia caja, Ruby tigers are a uniform orange/brown to dark brown colour.

jeremiah · #4 (**permalink**) 15-10-2008, 06:09 PM

Thank you -

But - pictures of Garden Tiger caterpillars show tufts of orange hairs at the head end and a rim of orange hairs all round the body - this one definitely didn't have any orange hairs, just the little brown nutlet head. Are they that variable? Do the orange hairs come at a particular age of the caterpillar?

Dogghound · #5 (**permalink**) 15-10-2008, 06:16 PM

This group of Caterpillars (Arctiidae) are highly variable in colour and as they mature they will develop and look quite different to when they first hatched from the egg, or before the hibernate compared to next year after hibernation.

jeremiah · #6 (**permalink**) 15-10-2008, 07:37 PM

OK - thank you.

I didn't realise caterpillars changed that much, I thought they just got bigger.

Is there any website that shows eggs, caterpillars at different ages, pupae and the imago?

CapAndBracket · #7 (**permalink**) 15-10-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremiah

OK - thank you.

I didn't realise caterpillars changed that much, I thought they just got bigger.

Is there any website that shows eggs, caterpillars at different ages, pupae and the imago?

Eggs, Larvae, Pupae and Adult Butterflies and Moths

Cheers J.P.

Dogghound · #8 (**permalink**) 15-10-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremiah

OK - thank you.

I didn't realise caterpillars changed that much, I thought they just got bigger.

Is there any website that shows eggs, caterpillars at different ages, pupae and the imago?

Everytime they get bigger they shed their skin they have a different look.