Any thoughts on an ID for this please?

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi, just moonlighting from the fungi forum to ask you insect people if there might be any chance of identifying the caterpillar on this: -



The fungus is Cordyceps militaris which specialises in parasitising dead/buried caterpillars, but I haven't been able to find out which specific ones. (Could it be a Leatherjacket - Cranefly larva?). - If it might help towards ID, the habitat was a mossy bank in open moorland.

I know this is a long shot, as the caterpillar is long dead, and had to be dug out of the soil and cleaned off to facilitate the photo.

Regards,
Mike.

[jaguarondi]

Possibly a cutworm, Agrotis sp. (e.g. Agrotis segetum). But as many caterpillars pupate in the soil I suppose there must be loads of potential candiates. It's not a leatherjacket though.

[Lancashire Lad]

Thanks jaguarondi.

Browsing for Agrotis segetum brings up a few images that look fairly similar, but as you say, there are quite a few possibles that it could be.

Regards,
Mike.

[Rossco]

That's a great find. I've never seen Cordyceps fungi in this country. The larva is definitely a lepidoptera.