unid caterpillars / larvae

[asheleaf]

Hi all, I'm working my way through a folder of unidentified larvae. I've uploaded a few to the Gallery, some of which I have attempted to id.

thanks in advance, Ashe

PS If anyone is bored there are plenty more on my flickr account - mountainashe

1 - Trachycera advenella ? found on Hawthorn, May 2008, Surrey



2 - Antitype chi - Grey chi moth caterpillar ? 5cm eating Poppy, May 2008, Surrey


3 - found on Bracken, May 2008, Surrey


4 - Ceramica pisi - Broom Moth Caterpillar? from the New Forest, August 2008


5 - Orthosia sp ? on poppy, May 2008, Surrey


6 - found on Oak in May 2008, Headley Heath Surrey.


7 - Erannis defoliaria - Mottled Umber moth caterpillar ? hawthorn, 2008,


8 - found on Birch, May 2008. Headley Heath


9 - unid caterpillar found on Bracken , may 2008

[Dogghound]

1.Trachycera advenella
2.Looks like mid instarHeliophobus reticulata (which feed on flowers)
3.Spilosoma luteum
4.Ceramica pisi
5.
6.Epirrita dilutata
7.Erannis defoliaria
8. pos Colotois pennaria
9. A Sawfly larvae

[tristanba]

Hi Ashe,

I'm pretty poor at larvae but a few thoughts

1) Yes T. advenella does look a good bet
2) Unlikely to be Grey Chi in the south-east and on a poppy - I think this is an Orthosia sp, perhaps Hebrew Character - v common and feeds on many types of low veg
3) Arctiidae? Looks rather like White Ermine but May is very early for a larva
4) Looks good for Broom moth

7) and 8) are definitely Geometridae > Ennominae - I always find these variable and difficult. Mottled Umber is a good bet.

Do you know this website? Eggs, Larvae, Pupae and Adult Butterflies and Moths

This European site is also good - click 'thumbnails' and then select the group you are interested in: Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa

Cheers
Tristan

[asheleaf]

cheers guys, amazed to see I got some right

I've been working my way through all of your suggestions (trying to learn something).

2 - I couldn't reach a decision on 2. It doesnt seem to have enough spots for Orthosia sps but it doesnt look like Heliophobus reticulata, plus apparently thats very rare so seems unlikely.
3 - I checked the date for 3, the White Ermine, and it was July (sorry!)
8 - I think Dogghound is right about 8 being Colotois pennaria.

thanks for the links Tristan, they helped me out a lot.

thank you both for your help

Ashe

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by asheleaf

3 - I checked the date for 3, the White Ermine, and it was July (sorry!)

This is without doubt a buff ermine, the white ermine has a orange line running down its center. Which is a simplistic way of differentiating the two. Whereas the buff has a dark back and paler flanks like in the photo.

[asheleaf]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

This is without doubt a buff ermine, the white ermine has a orange line running down its center. Which is a simplistic way of differentiating the two. Whereas the buff has a dark back and paler flanks like in the photo.

Sorry Dogghound, I did go with your suggestion, I renamed it with the latin name you suggested, I just got the English name wrong in the post!!

thanks again, Ashe