ID help

[Ollyd]

Please can someone ID this. It was found in a pool of water on a pond margin. I have absolutly no idea and no id book. Iv searched the internet for the last hour an half but cant find anything.

[Ollyd]

Is it even in the right topic?

[triops]

Hi ollyd,

It's the caterpillar of the Lime Hawk moth. Possibly it was looking for a place to pupate and fell in and may have drowned, or maybe washed out of the place it was using to pupate. It may survive but will need help! Put it in a container on some tissue or kitchen roll (just on the top, don't wrap or bury it) and leave it undisturbed for a couple of weeks. let us know what happens.

[Ollyd]

Thanks very much for your help with ID. I cant believe I didnt realise It shouldnt have been in the pool! I even thought "how strange..."! but after taking a picture of it I put it back where I found it *cringe* and covered it with dead leaves so the ducks had less chance of seeing it. So, I left it too drown! So gutted! would have loved an excuse to try and raise a moth as well. Are there any moths which pupate in water? Anyway this was last sat so it will defo have drownd by now wont it. Next time... while im thinking whats the best id book for this sort of thing? Regards Olly