I have NEVER seen one of these before. I found it last week eating leaves on a rose bush. It is a bit under 2in/5cm long fully extended.
It is quite reluctant to move after disturbance, adopting a stiff-as-a-board head-tucked-in posture which you can see in the next photo. Can anyone identify it for me?
Here it is, in the shade, pretending to be a stubby green twig!
And finally, I took it out into the sunlight to show up the details of the small spots on the spiracle line and the much reduced pro-legs. There are only the three pairs of these and the pair of pro-legs nearest the head appears to be fairly non-functional, although the other ones are very sturdy and have a very strong grip! It also seems to produce a small amount of silk whereever it goes, and you can just see this under the twig in this final photo.
It didn't like the bright light very much so I put it back in the rose bush when I finished documenting it, because there is no way I am going to even try raising a caterpillar to maturity when I have no idea of its requirements and pupation habits!
Any help anyone can give with the ID would be much appreciated.
Ciao, Kaelkitty.
Edited to add the bit about the silk.
This message was edited Oct 4, 2009 2:00 PM
Kaelkitty,
This forum is for question relating to adding data to the BugFiles database.
We have a forum on Insect and Spider Identification here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/bugid/all/
and if you post your question there, you may get some help,
You can attach your images to the message you post for a better chance of getting an identification.
Having said that, I had a quick look on Don Herbison-Evans australian caterpillar web site, knowing that your caterpillar was one of the Geometridae.
I think I have found it. It is the caterpillar of Capusa cuculloides: http://linus.socs.uts.edu.au/~don/larvae/enno/cucull.html
Kennedy
BugFiles Administrator
Thanks Kennedy,
I was looking for a "Bug ID forum" and could only find this one! (I have had less than 4 hours sleep in the last 48 because my local garden society has just held its Annual show and I have been flat out so that is my only excuse!
I will add the ID forum to my shortlist and send any future questions there. Thank you for the ID in any case as it is much appreciated.
Ciao, KK.
