On Wednesday we took a trip to Paddy's Island with a volunteer party from Analox. We were clearing vegetation that has grown over the summer, so that the Common Terns can nest there again next year. While we were there we rescued several different species of caterpillar, but the biggest and most beautiful was this Elephant Hawkmoth (Deilephila elpenor) larva. We managed to get this photo of him sat on top of a tern shelter which we provide to protect the chicks from predation.
The eye-like markings on the side of his head act as a deterrent to birds which may otherwise attempt to eat him for dinner. When startled, the caterpillar adopts a deceptive snake-like posture, which makes him look dangerous to possible predators.
We found him near his food plant, Great Willowherb, resting in the mid-afternoon sun. As we had removed all of his food plant from the island, we bought him back with us and have created a habitat for him to safely feed and pupate in. Since he has found his new home with us and will be with us for some months to come, we thought it only fitting to give him a name, and so he is Samwise, in honour of his intrepid journey. Samwise is likely to pupate any day now as Elephant Hawkmoth larvae normally do so by the end of September. He will then spend the winter as a pupa and should emerge around May next year as a vibrantly coloured pink and green moth. We took this picture of an adult moth back in June whilst surveying the contents of a moth trap.
So if you come across this creature lurking in your garden, don't be alarmed! You can look forward to the prospect of sighting a beautiful moth next spring.
In the meantime, watch this space for another blog when the time comes for Samwise to pupate and begin his next grand adventure.
Karen and Fiona, Estate Volunteers