Those of you who have visited my blog recently will know that I have
been collating my photos of
butterflies and
moths. Today I am turning my attention to their larvae, beginning with the larvae of
MOTHS...
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| Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia) larva, I'm guessing 5th instar, Dunwich Heath, Suffolk, |
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Mullein moth larva, RSPB Wildlife Garden, Flatford, Suffolk, 2017
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| Above and below: Drinker moth (Euthrix potatoria) larva, Flatford, Suffolk, 2016 |
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Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis) larva, St Columba's inland island (photo here),
Snizort River on Skye, 2010 |
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Fox Moth (Macrthylacia rubi)
early instar larva on Raasay, Inner Hebrides, Sept. 2009 |
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| More Brown tail larvae, RSPB Holme Dunes, Norfolk, 2017 |
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Moving on to the larvae of DAY-FLYING MOTHS
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| Cinnabar moth larvae on (stripped) Ragwort, Snape, Suffolk |
* * *
The larvae of BUTTERFLIES
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| Swallowtail (Papilio machaon britannicus) larva, Norfolk |
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| Swallowtail, devouring Milk Parsley, Norfolk |
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Swallowtail larva, Norfolk
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| Swallowtail larva, Norfolk |
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| Swallowtail on Milk Parsley umbels |
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| I'm guessing this is a first instar Swallowtail larva, Norfolk |
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| Peacock (Aglais io) larva, RSPB Minsmere, 2016 |
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| Large White larvae, NT Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk |
This is not a very scientific post, I'm afraid, but I wanted to group my photos together. I hope it shows something of the diversity in terms of colour, hairiness and shape of a small selection of our UK lepidoptera larvae. As ever, if you spot an error, please feel free to drop a line in the Comments section...
5 comments:
Love those swallowtail caterpillars.
Beautiful images. Nice to see the larval stages instead of adults for a change.
A lovely selection of larvae, Caroline! The swallowtail caterpillar is amazing!
A super selection of butterfly and moth caterpillars - especially love the Swallowtail :) You've made me realise how few caterpillar photos I have taken - only Cinnabar and Emperor moths from memory.
Great photos.. and as others have said so interesting to see the larvae stage and not just the adult butterflies or moths. I don't take many caterpillar photos either, although I did take one of an elephant hawk moth caterpillar the other day.
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