Monday, October 27, 2014

Fox moth caterpillar

This fox moth caterpillar Macrothylacia rubi crossed our path when we were out walking on Birkside Fell near Blanchland in Northumberland this morning. It will have been feeding on heather.














It's quite late in the year to see one of these in such an active state but the unusually warm weather might have coaxed it out. It's pobably searching for a sheltered spot to spend the winter, before emerging for a brief bask in spring sunshine and then pupating.

 There are pictures of the adult moth here.


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3 comments:

  1. ADRIANOctober 27, 2014 at 6:49 PM

    Phil. It's a beauty. Are they he ones that cause a bit of a rash if you pick them up?

    ReplyDelete
  2. PhilOctober 27, 2014 at 9:28 PM

    They're notorious for it - can cause severe skin irritation

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax!November 3, 2014 at 11:23 AM

    I don't know if we get them in Dorset but I'll look out for them on dry days. (It's raining at present.)

    ReplyDelete

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