Posted by davenicholls on 09-06-2008 22:44
#1
I found this striking caterpillar on pond-side vegetation in Leicestershire. I don't think it is lepidopteran.... could it be a sawfly? Any ideas?
Posted by Juergen Peters on 09-06-2008 23:44
#2
Hello!
davenicholls wrote:
I found this striking caterpillar on pond-side vegetation in Leicestershire. I don't think it is lepidopteran...
It IS lepidopteran. It belongs to
Helcystrogramma lutalella (Gelechiidae).
http://www.lepifo..._Lutatella
Posted by davenicholls on 11-06-2008 13:56
#3
Many thanks Jurgen. Its a rather drab moth for such an interesting caterpillar!
Posted by davenicholls on 13-06-2008 12:17
#4
Could it be Helcystogramma rufescens rather than lutatella? I've found out that rufescens is common in my area wheras lutatella has not been recorded here. The caterpillars look very similar and I can't see an obvious difference....
see UK Moths for rufescens photo: http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3571