This scary looking mini beast is a vapourer moth caterpillar. We found it on our butterfly bush and took a few pictures. The male moth of these caterpillars actually comes out during the day to feed, the females are flightless and look like hairy woodlice. The vapourer caterpillar can be found on most trees and […]
Continue Reading Vapourer Moth Caterpillar Photograph
I live in Stockport, Cheshire. Found one of these caterpillars on a young cistus plant.It has taken about 2 days to eat one leaf!
Found lots of these caterpillars on my Nans raspberries…..We have kept some in a ventilated fish bowl to study.
I have found two on my geranium plants today 12 July 2009. I have left them where they are for the time being – Sevenoaks, Kent
Found one on the sweet peas today 15th July 2010.
Never seen one before not sure if they are normally found this far north (Stirling) as most of the replies to this are only as far North as Newcastle area.
Peggy, what a coincidence. found one this morning 17th July on my sweet peas here in Livingston, never seen one before. Needless to say it no longer resides in the sweet peas but has been relegated to a tree in my front garden.
Found one of these brilliant beasties yesterday on a rose bush in Guildford Surrey.
First time I’ve seen one of these so was determined to identify it!
21/7/10
Walking by the River Wear in Durham City. Saw loads of these little fellas crawling on the metal railings. Really beautiful with their curious tufts on their backs. The picture doesn’t really do it justice as ours had black and red spots down each side.
We found one yesterday in Northampton! :) It fell out of a packet of paper where my partner works :*( He brought it home for me to identify so we’ll make sure he or she is safe.
Found a vapourer moth caterpillar on my daughters bike, we have kept it in a plastic bug cage for the girls to watch and study. I am from Vancouver Island Canada and I have never seen one of these species before!
Sandra
Found one on my baby apple tree today. Looked up web as hadn’t seen one before. Keeping it in tub for a while and hear they like strawberry leaves too. My apple tree is next to my strawberry patch, so will have to check for more. Stay near East Kilbride.
One fell onto me from a small apple tree this morning (in West Midlands)- I’ve never seen one before but in view of previous comments I’ll go back and see if there are more. The apple tree has been struggling for several years! Connie.
We found one on the bin under a tree at work today. Put it in a box with holes, so I could identify it. Interesting caterpillar. Will replease it now I know what it is.
Just found one of these today on a young Oak tree. Never seen one before, cute little critter.
Ive been very interested to find out what this caterpillar was!
Its been living on my raspberry plant.cute looking really.
yesterday my mum and i found one in the bushes we wondered what it was(quite freaky looking) and it’s only june and they are only out to july-september this species of moth has a irratant to yourn skin so be carefull !!:)<3
I found one on my strawberries,never seen one before.
are they poisonious
Not to my knowledge, like all hairy caterpillars they can cause irritation to the skin and for some people who are allergic or susceptible it can cause a bad skin reaction.
I’ve looked up online and some people report there finger tips going numb, rash or bumping on the skin, depending on the individual some have treated the condition with a insect sting cream others have had to go to the doctor for antibiotics.
If you do have any symptom and your worried after contact with an insect best advice would be to go to your doctor.
Has a side note if you do touch one by mistake obviously avoid touching you eyes, you don’t want the airs in your eyes.
Best thing to do is to admire the Vapourer moth caterpillar from afar and not to handle them directly or any other hairy caterpillar for that matter.
Hairy Caterpillar protect themselves by shedding there hairs which can be breathered in or penatrate the skin causing itching, irritation or infection.
I don’t think any caterpillar in the UK is fatal to humans, I search the web and couldn’t get a straight answer to any caterpillar in the UK being poisonous, the fact I didn’t stumble upon any cases where someone had a fatal encounter with a Vapourer moth caterpillar indicates they are more than likely not poisonous.
Like I said best bet don’t touch them.
Marie
I am a victim of the not so cute caterpillar I have them on my raspberry bushes.I wear a glove on one hand to hold on to the stems whilst I pick But I will not be wearing shorts and tank tops again as I had a bad reaction from the beasts and I am covered in a itchy, red welt rash Do not scratch as it spreads.I had to get medical attention and now I’m on antibiotics!!
I have an organic garden so I cann’t spray, I throw them out on to the road!
But watch out for the little hairy buggers they might look funky and cute they are not!!
We have an infestation of these at the back of our building in East London I was wondering what these were and assumed they were months and now I know. Looks like we’ll have the done problem when they all turn into months they’ll be everywhere but hey they are harmless.
Found about 15 so far on some pelargoniums, they are eating through the leaves. They are really enjoying them.
I will try and add photo’s of the leaves and of some of the caterpillars.
I found one of these funky looking creatures well i was camping with the family. Only it had alot more yellow on the body with 2 red dots on its back. Other then that it looks the same. I have a pic but cant upload it….
they are amazing creatures