Do caterpilars hibernate?

[werdnal]

Lovely sunny day here, if you could get out of the chilly East wind, and walking home from school, we found a hairy brown caterpillar crossing the pavement. We picked it up and put in the hedge to protect from being stepped on, but its only March - where has it come from? I assumed that they hatched from eggs and pupated the same year (perhaps spending the winter in crysalis form). I know butterflies and moths hibernate, but where has this little chap spent the winter?

[Jason Green]

Evening Werdnal,

Yes, they certainly do hibernate! I found several tiny micro-moth type species eating a tusssock of grass last year, I was quite surprised. It probably depends on the species as to where it over-winters, but I'd guess under leaf-litter, in grasses depending on size, etc. They will awake and feed as temperatures rise slightly, then re-sleep when they drop.

Two suspects spring to mind as to which yours was - the Fox or a Tiger moth (both of which I believe can be found at this time of year as larvae/caterpillar), though I'm sure there are plenty of other options!

Take care,

Jason