> below lock 9 I found what I think was an enormous caterpillar. It was
> about the length and thickness of my little finger, but seemed to
> consist of about 8 segments. It was mostly green, but had markings
> like
> two big eyes on the back of the first segment. I though at first it
> was
Sounds most like the Puss Moth, which is green but with a dark marking
on the back and two black eye-spots - not just bluff as it can squirt
formic acid if alarmed. Its body is thicker at the front and tapering at
the back with a two-pronged tail. It eats willow etc so could be
expected in towpath vegitation. As the name implies, the adult is fluffy
and grey.
The other caterpillar with eyes (two pairs, with 'pupil' and 'iris') is
the Elephant Hawk-moth - greyish-brown or green speckled with black and
tapers at the front like an elephant's trunk. It eats willowherb
>
> Terry Streeter
> NB Arun - Audlem
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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