ID Caterpillar please?

leez1984 · #1 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 03:28 PM

Found on a wall on the way home from the kids school, and we'd like to 'raise' it as a home science project. But first we need to know what it is lol.

Its bright green, about 1 1/2 inches. It has a yellow stripe down its back, which changes into a black stripe at the middle (the black stripe doesn't go along its entire length, just fades in and out near the caterpillars midsection)

It has black dots (bordered again by pale yellow) on each side, right above the 'bumps' on its underbelly.

Can anyone tell us what this is?

Thanks in advance

charlieb · #2 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 03:58 PM

It looks like a sawfly, maybe a Cimbex sp. I doubt you will be able to get a positive ID, but try it on some leaves - give it a variety (things like alder, willow, birch) and see if it takes.

Rearing sawflies is difficult as so little is know about their habits (compared with butterflies and moths), so good luck!

leez1984 · #3 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 04:16 PM

Wow, thanks

I found it on 'Whats's this bug' website and that definitely looks like what it is (especially the part about it secreting a sticky brown liquid when disturbed - I thought I'd hurt it/it was doing its business lol)