Favourite caterpillar

Mullein moth, Cucullia verbasci

The main reason I grow verbascums are these lovely pests. It's just shame that the Mullein moth is a small brown critter.

 

great photo Nigel , only a suggestion but you should include this in Woos thread about butterflies

Spruce

 

I think I'll grow verbascums now just to see them! How big are they? The caterpillars I mean not verbascums. Smashing photo too.

 

How lovely Woo.... She wasn't anxious about you being so near then?
Jenny

 

@wiseowl
I did wonder what had happened. However this thread now reads quite oddly.

 

An earlier thread (June 17th 2012):

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/mullein-moths.43888/

And by July the first they'd all gone (better check my Mullein plants quick!)

 

I rushed to my mullein plants this morning to take pics of the caterpillars but nothing on them this year for the first time I can remember.

Pic of no caterpillars;

 

I thought it best to tack this on the end of here.
Its a big fat one I found today.

 

Type of hawkmoth

@graham best can you help ?

 

@Spruce , apparently mine is a Puss moth caterpillar.
The moth can have up to a 3in wing span.

I'll get the AK AK ready in the area.

 

Wingspan 45-70 mm.

Named after the cat-like appearance of the adult moth, this species is fairly common throughout most of Britain.

The striking caterpillar feeds on aspen (Populus tremula) as well as poplar (Populus spp.) and willow (Salix spp.). When disturbed, it raises its head and waves the twin tails, which have pinkish extendable flagellae.

The adult flies from May to July, and frequently comes to light.

 

Not sure what these are but I liked them anyway.

 

the caterpillars are cabbage white butterflies