Caterpillar for ID please

Janenat · #1 (**permalink**) 28-03-2011, 10:37 AM

Hello
Could someone identify this one for me
Saw it yesterday - quite long - 5 cms
Think it's the culprit munching through my False oxlip petals

Many thanks
Jane

nightshade · #2 (**permalink**) 28-03-2011, 11:48 AM

It looks like a final instar of an Oak Eggar, I will just change my signature to "but i've been wrong before"

earthdragon64 · #3 (**permalink**) 28-03-2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

It looks like a final instar of an Oak Eggar, I will just change my signature to "but i've been wrong before"

..or Northern Eggar, depending where you are in the UK.

Regards, Audrey.

Janenat · #4 (**permalink**) 28-03-2011, 12:20 PM

Thank you, I live in Exeter, would that make a difference to the ID?
Does the name suggest an association with oak trees, only there aren't any in the immediate area?
thanks
Jane

Dogghound · #5 (**permalink**) 28-03-2011, 02:09 PM

Its an oak eggar, northern eggar look different to these showing less red and being more bland. No they feed on bramble, willow, hawthorn, heather, bilberry,blackthorn etc. They are called oak eggars because their cocoon looks like a acorn.