Please help ID this caterpillar

[Lucy T]

Am I right in thinking the larger, hairer caterpillars are generally moths?

I appreciate the photo isn't the most helpful for ID-ing, but if you can tell me if it's a moth or butterfly caterpillar, that'd be very helpful!

Thanks!

Lucy

[Dogghound]

Its Spilosoma lubricipedia. Hairy or unhairy is not really a rule to follow, you get hairy butterfly and moth larvae. Although you do tend to get some really hairy moth larvae, butterflies often show spines. There again you get plenty of moth larvae with no hair.

[Lucy T]

Brilliant, thank you so much for replying with an ID so quickly! What a lovely looking moth too!

And thanks for setting me straight on my caterpillar assumption!