Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

What is this Caterpillar?

27 replies

monkeywrench · 10/12/2020 15:31

I just found this in my Guinea pigs cage, does anyone know what it is? I am going to assume it was in the lettuce this morning which has come from Spain because the piggies are inside. It's about 2 cm long and smooth.

What is this Caterpillar?
What is this Caterpillar?
What is this Caterpillar?
OP posts:
AfterSchoolWorry · 10/12/2020 15:33

Aww!

monkeywrench · 10/12/2020 15:41

It woke up and wriggled a bit, more like 3 cm long I would say.....

OP posts:
Darklane · 10/12/2020 16:04

Looks like some sort of moth caterpillar rather than a butterfly one.
Possibly Galleria mellonella, commonly wax worm, that are pretty widespread in Europe.

monkeywrench · 10/12/2020 16:24

I have just looked at pictures of that online and I don't think it's that because they seem much creamier beige coloured. This is really quite orange and green, like from a cantaloupe melon

OP posts:
Littlestlily · 10/12/2020 16:45

Could it be this?

What is this Caterpillar?
monkeywrench · 10/12/2020 16:58

I don't think so either, it's really orange at the head end and becomes greener. Its definitely 2 colours.

OP posts:
monkeywrench · 10/12/2020 16:59

I don't know whether to keep it and feed it or put it outside!!! It really depends what its going to turn into!

OP posts:
Scoobygang7 · 10/12/2020 17:11

Cabbage worm. Could be a different colour depending on where it is in it's lifecycle

What is this Caterpillar?
monkeywrench · 10/12/2020 17:35

From that picture it looks a little like it, but I have seen them before in the garden and really didn't think it was one. The colour is really odd on this one.

OP posts:
FlippinNoah · 10/12/2020 17:40

Orange luna moth caterpillar?

WarmSausageTea · 10/12/2020 17:47

Can I join in? This dropped out of an oak tree onto my leg in early august and I’m still very curious to know what it is. (That’s not my leg, I very quickly ushered off my leg.)

What is this Caterpillar?
monkeywrench · 10/12/2020 18:28

ShockShockShock

OP posts:
WarmSausageTea · 10/12/2020 18:30

That was pretty much my reaction. There might also have been noise. (From me, not @Mutant Enormo-Caterpillar.)

monkeywrench · 10/12/2020 18:30

But I am pretty sure that was an oak processional Caterpillar and they are toxic and causes rashes and worse

OP posts:
monkeywrench · 10/12/2020 18:33

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=902

OP posts:
monkeywrench · 10/12/2020 18:34

I don't think it's the luna moth they seem much fatter. I have noted mine has 4 pairs of legs in its middle area

OP posts:
Saisong · 10/12/2020 18:35

Monkey yours might be some kind of vapourer moth.

Will0wtree · 10/12/2020 18:39

@WarmSausageTea Could yours have been a Vapourer Moth Caterpillar? www.forestresearch.gov.uk/research/native-species-that-may-be-mistaken-for-oak-processionary-moth/vapourer-moth-orgyia-antiqua/

WarmSausageTea · 10/12/2020 18:40

Crikey, thanks, monkey.

Saisong · 10/12/2020 18:47

Sorry I meant Sausage as the vapourer caterpillar.

Monkey yours might be one of the Angle Shades - native to UK and they overwinter as caterpillars.

WarmSausageTea · 10/12/2020 18:49

Will0wtree possibly... that one looks very much the same, albeit more colourful. Maybe that’s a male/female thing?

To be fair, it had a certain magnificence, but I wouldn’t be sorry not to encounter it again. Or it’s bigger, scarier parent.

luckymagnoliatree · 10/12/2020 20:14

Is it an angle shades moth caterpillar?

What is this Caterpillar?
NanTheWiser · 10/12/2020 20:56

I think it’s an Angle Shades caterpillar too. I get them in the greenhouse sometimes, but they’re usually brownish.

Horsemad · 10/12/2020 21:10

@monkeywrench, yours could be a Dot moth and @WarmSausageTea, your is probably a Vapourer moth. 🙂

WarmSausageTea · 10/12/2020 22:40

Thank you, @Horsemad