[ID] Three caterpillars please!

[Jason Green]

Hi WAB'ers,

I found three caterpillar species today - - any ideas on who they'll become??

17/3/09

Bright green...
...found near a great willowherb

17/3/09

A hawk moth??
...found in a young, growing great willowherb

17/3/09

No idea... dropped from an Ivy bush I think... the only thing near!
...almost ended up as a meal for a Steatoda bipunctata

How can you tell if a caterpillar will become a moth or butterfly?

Thanks for reading!

Take care,

Jason

[Dutchess]

>>>>How can you tell if a caterpillar will become a moth or butterfly? <<<<

By identifying the caterpillar, I would think, mate!

lol! I'm off to get my book, although I expect someone will get there before me

D. x

P.S. Guessing, but no.3 looks like a Tiger moth.

[Jason Green]

Thanks Dawny!

Yes, I was thinking more about any differences between the caterpillar of either a moth or butterfly having any tell-tale signs, like the ones that differenciate a caterpillar from sawfly larvae where the latter two tend to look quite similar if viewed briefly.

I look forward to your findings, or those of anyone else

[goosey]

Hi Jason, I think image 1. Is an Angle Shades - Phlogophora meticulosa (moth)

I don't think image 2. is a Hawkmoth, they usually have a horn.

I can't help with image 3.

[Dutchess]

Yer Jase, soz, I was being a tad silly wasn't I?

(I haven't looked up any caterpillars yet! I got intrigued and distracted by Nature Shock. )

D.

[Jason Green]

You? Silly? Never...

[CapAndBracket]

Tenuous id's
No2: a later instar Angle shades.
No3: fox moth, not certain, but hairy caterpillar this time of year, looks the right size.

Cheers J.P.