For the love of all that is good and natural, PLEASE tell me what this is!

[sorrythisnameistaken]

NC just in case! Hope picture uploads...

What the fuck is it??? We thought the cat had done a shit at first but... it's got eyes... and a mouth...

It was on the patio this morning but it's now in the bushes and I need to know a) what it is and b) whether it is harmful to cats or life in general. Suffice to say, I'm never going in the garden again!

Please please please tell me what it is! PLEASE?!

Those 'eyes' are on its bottom. The real eyes are at the other end.

Lemon Drizzle you say? Whether or not I volunteer to help you depends entirely on your answer to the following 2 questions: 1) were you ever a member of the school PTA and 2) do you wear Boden maxi skirts?
Thank you

Well it is sort of cute in a kid's drawing of a caterpillar kind of way. We saw a huge Frangipani Hawkmoth caterpillar on holiday (black and white stripes with red front and back end) and I genuinely thought it was a snake. It was drawing attention to itself from a predation point of view really, though those colours may be bird code for I taste bad.

Oh whiffle please grow up. This thread was partially lighthearted as I've never seen one of those in my life!

Wait... it has eyes on its arse Pesty? Nature does some crazy things!

And to Gah - no and no!

'He' is so cute. we used to have some pretty moths around before we moved here.
One day I found an Emerald moth on the patio door, beautiful creature, it stayed most of the day, and then disappeared. Easily mistaken for a caterpillar.

It's an elephant hawk moth caterpillar. They love fuschia bushes and are almost always found on or near them,

Lol at your dog, Didimus!

Mine would sniff it, bark at it, try to eat it, then roll in it, in that order. That's her response to most things she's never seen before.

I had a hummingbird hawk moth in my garden once. It was truly incredible to watch.

I think this heat has been a boon for butterflies and moths(disclaimer, not an entomologist) I can't remember a summer when I have seen to many and such a variety.

The moths are beautiful but I’ve never seen one in the flesh, although we have had plenty of the caterpillars over the years. As well as fuchsia they like rose bay willow herb - we have lots of it as our garden is (ahem) wild in places. The eye and mouth markings are for defence. My girls even had one living in a box in the conservatory a couple of years ago.

😱

We get elephant hawk moths quite often where we are and they are magnificent!

Alarming when you first see one though, and the buzz they make!!!

We had an elephant hawk moth in our house once. It was very beautiful

I think she’s sweet- like a kid’s book illustration of a caterpillar!

I suspect, by your reaction to this creature, that I should strongly recommend you not ever visit my country. If your plane stops there on it’s way to another country (Antarctica?) then don’t leave the airport. Or go near a window.

Our bugs will scare you into a coma. Then they’ll eat you.

I have noted that Skittles

The only revolting thing on this thread is people’s ignorance and repellent attitude towards nature.

That’s an impressively high horse. The view looking down must be very self-satisfying.

wow, that's amazing! I would love to see one of those in real life!

Awwww. I love these! Had one in the garden too. Cutest thing ever

Wow!(yes, that's envy!).

I'd be inclined to move it off the patio, else some bird will think it's Xmas come early - find somewhere with one of its food plants and soil it can burrow in undisturbed esp if you're going to be having builders in.

I don’t see why thinking people being repulsed by nature is really sad. Meh.

Errol It is now under a bush that I have forgotten the name of but the fuchsia is nearby if it fancies a trip out. Now I just have to keep an eye on the cat to check that she doesn't bring it in!

Judas if that's what it looks like am envious of OP, it's really beautiful, one of the only things I've enjoyed about this summer is the plethora of moths and butterflies, hardly saw any last year. Although only wander into the garden to fill up the bird bath, apart from that indoors trying to keep cool!

I have a large fuschia bush. But no fabulous caterpillar.

I am completely jealous.

Yes LakieLady Butterflies are just as bad.
I have a real issue though and I know that.
I literally can't even look at image on a screen of them. (why oh why did someone post one up thread?)
My stomach churns, I feel sick, I itch like crazy.
It's a real nightmare.
Proper phobia.
Even real looking butterflies on clothes, I have to move away from someone if they are wearing something as it just freaks me out.
I need to get a grip!

whifflesqueak

I think being repulsed by certain things in nature is... natural, ironically enough. It's likely a defence mechanism. I wouldn't worry about it too mcuh.

skittles australia?spent 18 monthes there and nz and was delighted by all the amazing creatures.
op we have many big and gorgeous moths and butterflys here too.
the luna moth is one of my favs.