Another caterpillar ID please

mikebriggs · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2011, 09:53 AM

Here's another one that has been puzzling me. Found in its thousands on a bed of nettles last May they dwindled in numbers to a few dozen, grew to about 3cm each and then disappeared altogether. Can't find anything in my books that matches. Any ideas?

Mike

Deb London · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2011, 10:07 AM

Mike, They look like Red Admiral (butterfly) caterpillars. Deb

EDIT Sorry, they look like, but having read a little further, I don't think they are.

EDIT again, look up Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars. They behave like this.

Anders152 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2011, 11:21 AM

Or peacocks?

mikebriggs · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2011, 12:09 PM

Thanks, Deb and Anders. We get a lot of small tortoiseshells around here but I have never seen a peacock - don't think we have them. What surprised me was the speed with which they disappeared: birds, I guess.
Mike

Anders152 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2011, 08:30 PM

I know with peacocks they live in groups for the first few instars, then split up and live alone. Maybe they are more careful to hide when living singly as they no longer have the protection of the web/numbers?

Lance Morgan · #6 (**permalink**) 11-07-2011, 08:30 AM

They are small tortoiseshells. getting scarce down here

mikebriggs · #7 (**permalink**) 11-07-2011, 04:41 PM

Thanks again everyone. What a shame the small tortoiseshells are getting rare with you Lance. There was one in the garden just yesterday and we get plenty every year. Also yesterday a meadow brown and two gorgeous blues (along with far too many large whites. There go our brassicas!)

Mike