What Is This Dodgy Looking Thing Found In The Garden?

UnderPressure

As the tile says, stumbled across this dodgy looking thing in the garden today, it seems to have some gruesome looking teeth!

Any ideas?





I should add that the great people over on allotment.org.uk identified it first so all credit should go to them for the identification of this.

The thread is here:

http://chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=99187.0

Great site full of wonderful people always willing to lend a hand, a bit like here, check it out if you get time.

Norma_Desmond

Could it be a giant Hawk Moth caterpillar of some kind?

I'm sure I had a similar one in the garden last year - plug ugly and almost big enough to keep as a pet!

UnderPressure

Thanks for the reply After a bit more research it is an Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar, quite an unsavoury looking character now been evicted to the adjoining field full of cows

wellused

How many cows does it take to fill a field?:eek:;)

Leif

UnderPressure wrote: »

Thanks for the reply After a bit more research it is an Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar, quite an unsavoury looking character now been evicted to the adjoining field full of cows

It is absolutely beautiful. I think these huge moth larvae are wonderful things. The only problem is that some can eat crops. From wikipedia: "
The preferred food plants of the caterpillar are willowherb (Epilobium) and bedstraw (Galium), though it will also take fuchsias."So it might even be beneficial by eating unwanted plants, although Fuschias are probably desirable.

sassyblue

It's stunning as a moth, hubby was 'attacked' by one last year lol, it flew in our window and freaked him out. There's a huge honeysuckle bush outside and they like them apparently.

http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1991

coshboy

Thanks for the pic. I love threads like these. That thing doesn't look real!
Stunning caterpillar and moth though!

harrys_nan

We have had a couple just lately, couldn't believe how big they are , not pretty things but fascinating in it's own right.
Neighbours have a fuchsia hedge near where they were .

Lisa_27

I think he is cute :-)

Have you seen the moths they turn into? stunning but yes I'd poo myself if I saw one, moths scare me x

blossomhill_2

I thought you had photoshopped it - remember the green Glowbug toys of the 80s?

Leif

Lisa_27 wrote: »

I think he is cute :-)

Have you seen the moths they turn into? stunning but yes I'd poo myself if I saw one, moths scare me x

I once had a Southern Hawker dragonfly land on my sleeve. It made me jump when I looked down and saw it. It must have confused my green jacket for a tree.