Geometrid caterpillar on Red Clover

poschiavanus · #1 (**permalink**) 12-09-2011, 12:54 PM

Found today on a Red Clover stem just under the flower head. Given the windy conditions it may have come from elsewhere. About 15-18 mm long: a bit more description with the images.

Any suggestions?

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 12-09-2011, 02:07 PM

It looks like a young light emerald Campaea margaritata, or one of the pugs. Its not one of the typical clover feeders. A lot of young geometrids look similar to this. Any shrubs around? do you still have it and was there any sign of it feeding on the clover?

poschiavanus · #3 (**permalink**) 12-09-2011, 02:31 PM

There were no obvious signs of it feeding on clover. I'd initially assumed it was a pug, but hadn't found anything which seemed to fit.

The Light Emerald suggestion looks a very good one: there is a narrow band of mature trees about 25-30 m away, but plenty of stuff being blown from them. These trees include Sycamore, Norway Maple, Italian Alder, Lime, Ash, Manna Ash, River Birch, Cherry, Weeping Willow, Horse Chestnut with Grey Alder, Hornbeam, Whitebeam, Hazel all in more recent plantings closer still.

TNX,

Posch