MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AND FAVS........ PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM, FOR GENERAL PHOTOS OF NATURE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF WILDLIFE.
This brightly coloured blue and orange-stiped caterpillar makes its appearance in spring, hatching from eggs deposited by the moth the July to August of the previous year, around the branches of foodplants, such as hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel and fruit trees.
In contrast, the moth, found throughout southern Britain and central Europe, apart from having a parallel bar across its forewing, is a rather dull uniform brownish colour, hence the name, 'lackey', which refers to the clothing worn by mensevants in medieval times.
Apart from its brightly coloured hues, a further reason why the caterpillar is distinctive, is because it spins a silken tent and lives communally, feeding on mass, and as such, is capable of stripping host plant bare, which in an orchard can be a problem.
The tent which faces into the sunshine, enables the caterpillars to regulate temperature. On their feeding trips they leave chemical trails, enables them to follow each other.
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MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AND FAVS........ PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM, FOR GENERAL PHOTOS OF NATURE ACROSS THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF WILDLIFE.
I stumbled on this little beauty by chance in a wildlife section of an old country parish cemetery, just as I was about to leave. It was munching its way through a rosebay willowherb leaf, which was growing out of the bottom part of a grave surround.
When outstretched and mobile, it is about 4 inches long, but about two-thirds of that length when at rest or eating. They are usually seen between July and September, after which time they pupate beneath soil or plant litter, before overwintering.
As it became aware of me, it withdraw its head and front two little body segments into the main part of its body, giving the appearance of an elephant truck, which it then started waving in my direction, while at the same time mimicking a snake with big eyes. Although it looked somewhat comical, it was a threatening gesture aimed at would-be predators, such as birds. What appears to be the tongue is in fact the top of its head. It even seems to have teeth!
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MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AND FAVS........ PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM, FOR GENERAL PHOTOS ACROSS THE WHOLE SPECTRUM NATURE AND WILDLIFE.
These brightly coloured caterpillars make an appearance between July and early September, feeding voraciously on mainly poisonous ragwort.
They absorb the toxin and bitter alkaloid substance which
ragwort contain, making themselves foul tasting to predators. Added to this, their striking black and yellow rings act as further warning signs.
As a result of low predation they are able strip a plant in no time, and on occasion when their food supply diminshes, they turn on each other.
As day-flying moths, they emerge into the brightly coloured gorgeous cinnabar red and black, which characterises the species, seen on sunny days in grassy meadows.
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