help: id foundling caterpillar

beckera · #1 (**permalink**) 04-07-2009, 11:47 PM

Hi there,

i am new here and i am hoping someone can help. i found a caterpillar in my mums house on some plastic flowers, nowhere near any live plants. My children wanted to take it home so we did and i put it in a vented tub with some lettuce. It has now completely changed and i would like to know what kind of caterpillar it is.

p.s. i hope the pictures work, the top one is when i found it and the bottom one is today. It has grown from about half an inch to about two inches.

charlieb · #2 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 06:01 PM

It's a Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera - an interesting one, not only does it change colour and patterning as it moults as you have seen but it is not actually a British species (occasionally a few turn up on the south coast having flown over the channel).

It comes in on tomato plants and geraniums (and inside peppers from personal experience!)

If you want to watch it develop into a moth (it's not guaranteed - it prefers the warmer climate of the Mediterranean!) place it in a tub with about an inch of loose soil and some leaves (tomato, geranium or slices of pepper - unless it's eating the lettuce in which case give it some more!).

When its ready it'll bury itself under the soil and pupate. Place it somewhere warm such as an airing cupboard and keep an eye on it! I haven't been able to find any info about how long it'll take to turn into a moth - so keep checking it - it might be weeks or months...

beckera · #3 (**permalink**) 06-07-2009, 11:49 AM

wow, thank you!!

we are up in scotland so even stranger!
I will do as you suggest and pop some soil into a bigger tub! It seems to be eating the lettuce like it is going out of fashion so will give i some more of that.

I have also noticed that it seems to poo a LOT!! i have been trying to keep the tub clean but we are talking but 4x 20p over night! Should i keep cleaning it out or just leave it when i put the soil in!

Thank you again

charlieb · #4 (**permalink**) 06-07-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckera

I have also noticed that it seems to poo a LOT!! i have been trying to keep the tub clean but we are talking but 4x 20p over night! Should i keep cleaning it out or just leave it when i put the soil in!

Yeah caterpillars do that! Keep cleaning it out - maybe put some tissue in the bottom of the container while it's still eating to soak up some of the moisture - hygiene is the most important thing with caterpillars.

Good luck