Caterpillar ID

[Mia K]

Hi,

I'm finding lots of the same caterpillar in my wee London garden, usually savaging polyanthus! I looked through the Gallery and the nearest in looks is the lesser yellow underwing moth. As sizes weren't given, would this caterpillar be about 1.5 inches as the ones in my garden are? I live in London. Does this sound right?

Also, I make an effort to make my garden bird bee beetle and butterfly friendly, so i won't harm these caterpillars despite their damage, but can someone tell me a good reason to encourage them?

What is it moths do other than singe themselves on lightbulbs, eat your jumpers, and hide behind the curtains and flap at your head when you open them in the morning!

Also, seeing as you probably know these things, I saw a butterfly in London a few years back which had an orange underneath, and the top was stripy like a zedbra (but it's not the Zebra butterfly). It was about the size and shape of a red admiral. I have a photo, and i did look through the Gallery but gave up after about 10 pages!

Thanks,

Mia

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Mia K

I'm finding lots of the same caterpillar in my wee London garden, usually savaging polyanthus! I looked through the Gallery and the nearest in looks is the lesser yellow underwing moth. As sizes weren't given, would this caterpillar be about 1.5 inches as the ones in my garden are? I live in London. Does this sound right?

Can you get a photo?

Originally Posted by Mia K

Also, I make an effort to make my garden bird bee beetle and butterfly friendly, so i won't harm these caterpillars despite their damage, but can someone tell me a good reason to encourage them?

They are part of a balanced ecosystem and provide food for birds, amphibians and bats. Pollinate flowers.

Originally Posted by Mia K

What is it moths do other than singe themselves on lightbulbs, eat your jumpers, and hide behind the curtains and flap at your head when you open them in the morning!

Confuse people like yourself . They are quite interesting insects when you read up on them visit the UK moths website and see.

Originally Posted by Mia K

Also, seeing as you probably know these things, I saw a butterfly in London a few years back which had an orange underneath, and the top was stripy like a zedbra (but it's not the Zebra butterfly). It was about the size and shape of a red admiral. I have a photo, and i did look through the Gallery but gave up after about 10 pages!

One of the tiger moths by the sounds of it.

[Mia K]

I'm just answering my own email as I found out from a moth website that it probably is the lesser yellow underwing, and the zebra butterfly is a tiger moth!

Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria - UKMoths

They're great to watch as you see a bright orange glow fluttering around, and then when it stops it looks like a different insect has landed (till you try to take a photo and the orange strikes up again...).

But still, if anyone can tell me the benefits of moths in the ecosystem i'd be grateful. Do they pollinate at night?

[triops]

But still, if anyone can tell me the benefits of moths in the ecosystem i'd be grateful. Do they pollinate at night?[/quote]

think we all believe moths have great benefits in the ecosystem. However, before explaining in detail, you have to explain the benefits of the human race in the ecosystem!