Caterpillar for ID please

Jennie · #1 (**permalink**) 19-04-2009, 01:07 PM

Hi, I would like to have a name for this caterpillar, and what it feeds on, as where it was found is now bare earth!

In the first photo the empty case on the right is showing the black bands between the segments, not easily seen in the other photos.

dmclean2 · #2 (**permalink**) 19-04-2009, 03:25 PM

Hi Jenny,
I'm not very good with caterpillars ID,
I had a look in my books and the nearest I could get was Oak eggar moth caterpillar but don't take that as gospel, wait for another ID,
I would say to you to be wary of handling caterpillars ,some species cause irritation of the skin, one such moth caterpillar is the Brown Tail which causes an extremely painful rash
Duncan

charlieb · #3 (**permalink**) 19-04-2009, 04:49 PM

Looks like an Oak Eggar; the feed on heather, bilberry, bramble, sallows, broom, sloe, hawthorn and hazel amongst other things

Jennie · #4 (**permalink**) 21-04-2009, 10:45 PM

Thank you Duncan and Charlie. I put it on some heather I have on Sunday. It may be large and brightly coloured, but it sure took some finding when I checked up on it tonight!
Have heeded your warning, Duncan.