Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Paying too much for broadband? Move to PlusNet broadband and save£££s. Free setup now available - terms apply. PlusNet broadband.  
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Hairy caterpillars?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Watten
    Posts
    4,575

    Default Hairy caterpillars?

    What does the black hairy caterpillars up here turn into?
    I know its a moth, but what kind?
    And do they change pretty quickly or do they overwinter as a pupa?
    So I know how long this science project is going to take with the caterpillar the kids found!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Caithness
    Posts
    5,424

    Default

    Would think a Tiger Moth but not sure if they live this far north, do you have a picture of said caterpillar?
    "Wooley Bears," are quite colourful and love nettles so if you have those about it might well be.
    My children used to collect a couple, put them in a vivarium and then be totally enthralled when the crysalis popped to give life to a very beautiful moth which was then released back into the garden.

  3. #3

    Default

    we found 1 out at our house in olrig,and have seen afew in the past..
    we will see if we coome across them again and take aphoto,,,,,also would love to try your idea of watching the change my son..will try and upload photos....

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Watten
    Posts
    4,575

    Default

    Its called Colin.........
    And Iona took him to nursery with her for the interest table......so he is here to stay....
    For the duration anyway....

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Lyth
    Posts
    1,969

    Default

    ah, are we talking about the caithness "hairy brochet" ?!

    http://www.windust.net/garden-tiger-moth.html
    Everyone is a genius,
    but if you judge a fish
    on its ability to climb a tree,
    it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.....

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Watten
    Posts
    4,575

    Default

    He is a bit different to that pic(looked at it before in my search)...his head and tail are black and he has a narrow orange stripe down his back.
    Looking for pics on ermine moth caterpillars now....still cant find a pic that looks like him enough to say for definate what he is.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Caithness
    Posts
    989

    Default

    It could be a white ermine, Dadie, we found one late August a few years back. Be warned though, if it is, they overwinter as a pupa, so you may be in for a long wait
    WeeBurd.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Watten
    Posts
    4,575

    Default

    Thats what im worried about......
    I might forget about him if he overwinters as a pupa, and its a rather long wait for a 3 year old ...
    If only she chose a cabbage white caterpillar it would only take a few weeks....and a few cabbage leaves.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Watten
    Posts
    4,575

    Default

    Colin seems to be knitting himself(cant think of him as anything but male now the kids have named him) a web around himself.
    So with any luck he is thinking about enclosing himself in a cocoon.
    I just hope I can keep himself alive over winter, to emerge as a moth (small people will be disappointed he isnt a butterfly) in the spring.
    Would it be better to move him into the shed?
    Think he is a white ermine going by the photos I found!

  10. #10

    Default

    Hi Dadie

    If Colin is a White Ermine then he is doing the right thing at the right time as they pupate in September. They overwinter as a pupa above ground among plant debris. Your best bet is to keep the pupa somewhere cool and away from the sun or any other heat source, an outside shed would be OK, and cover it with a bit of shredded tissue. If it is in a container it will be protected from parasites and rodents. If it survives in the wild it will emerge in May but sometimes in captivity they emerge earlier because it will generally be warmer. Good luck!

    Pterodroma

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •