Identify green caterpillar found in Egyptian strawberry.

[clothman933]

Hi all,

I bought a punnet of strawberrys from a high street store on Friday 21st Jan, the next day I found this caterpillar curled up inside a strawberry, which country of origin is Egypt. Having been in a fridge for who knows how long I warmed him above a tropical fish tank and he came back to life, He was about 4cms long. I fed him cucumber, lettuce, sweet potato and bran. He munched away and after a week pupated (which is about 2 to 2.5 cm long) . Can any one help identify him as ive trawled the internet for hours and cant find the breed and I need to know what to feed him when he energes out.
Thank you.

Lynn

[Dogghound]

Not knowing enough about egyptian species im not to sure. However virtually all moths feed on nectar from flowers when they are adults. This looks like a member of the noctuidae once it emerges from the chrysalis it will be easier to identify as an adult.

[clothman933]

Hi,

Thanks for your quick reply,
I had also posted the pictures on another site and they think it is a 'Scarce Bordered Straw' (Helicoverpa armigera). I have looked at several picture of these and they vary alot but have found a few the same.

Thanks again, Lynn

[tcvarlh]

oh it's not a well liked species if it is what you think it is :
Helicoverpa armigera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pretty thing tho' shame it's a major pest !
h