Mostly Moths 2019

Forgt to post pics of unknown green caterpillar found on 5th Aug on Siberian Iris plant which was being divided

Always a nightmare to ID so I forwarded pics to Steve Ogden of wildlifeinsights.com who is very helpful, he replied ***Can't see the legs but likely to be one of the plusiinae  - only 2 prolegs - see Silver Y. The Gold Spot larvae are known for feeding on water plants such as Iris and spin cocoon amongst leaves to pupate***

Said caterpillar duly pupated on 6th Aug

Bit darker next day

15th Aug I came across this beautiful, perfect Silver Y in the pot

Next morning the weather was great so I let it go ... but not before one more pic

Bon Voyage!

To be honest, Wendy, I didn't even think to look, I saw it and thought "where's my camera" lol

Six Spot Moth, on a recent visit to RSPB Conwy.

I just love the way those clear wings can look so black in the light.

Sandra : How wonderful to have the Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillars in your garden & 2 of them too!

Wendy : Your Silver Y was lucky, good to see a happy ending. I've no idea why the Double-striped Pugs chose the Sweetcorn, beacause it was there? LOL Will post caterpillar photos once sorted & you can see what you think. They may not be dead, they may have pupated.

Your caterpillars pretty much polyphagus H so sweetcorn could have been attractive, they eat legumes amongst a host of various flowers I've just read ... look forward to seeing some pics ... searched a few sites but couldn't find photo of pupa!

OK, got my act together, here are the various photos of the caterpillar & the pupa. It certainly looks like Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

Caught in the act, 3 caterpillars munching the sweetcorn core the 13 Aug

I put them in a pot with some cob & they ate well so I cleaned them up & took photos on the 15 Aug

But then they stopped eating I thought they died but no, all made little pupas, photo today 19 August

& it looks like ID is right, http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Gymnoscelis_Rufifasciata

This site is good too http://www.ukleps.org/ScientificNamesFamilyGroups.html

As I tend to see them all year around maybe they will hatch in a few weeks. Any ideas Wendy?

Great stuff H, yes they do stop eating just before pupation ... I was on that site yesterday but didn't scroll down far enough!

Day 16 for Garden Tiger larvae some of whom have been busily shedding skins (sorry for blur, water stain on lens after pond dipping session)

I counted 32!!

Named these two Eddie & Sid

Day 11 for Oak Eggars also shedding ... still 10 but one is hiding under bramble leaf

Their shed skins are long (as opposed to GT's which were scrunched up tiny balls of fluff which blew away before I could get pic!)

You really do an amazing job Wendy.

I thought this photo would make you laugh. In fact I did wonder if it shoud be censored as it made me blush! LOL It's a male Orange Footman (I think) in a rather unusual postion advertising his assets !!