Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar

Found wandering about in a confused state on the lawn after a heavy shower, this Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar has been temporarily brought into shelter before a predator finds it. At full stretch it is very nearly eight centimetres long and surprisingly hefty when you pick it up. It looks fat and healthy, so is presumably about ready to pupate. They are apparently quite common in UK, but it is the first one we've found in our garden here in rural Hampshire. An impressive caterpillar. Latin name: Deilephila elpenor. Favourite food: fuchsias (We wondered what had been chomping on them!)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Elephant
• Hawk Moth
• caterpillar

[steveOo0o]

Have one of these huge fuckers in my garden. My cat will only scratch it. I'm going to have to burn it alive.

[Gruntphuttock]

@steveOo0o Seems a bit drastic... 'specially for the cat! :-))

[lagoondiver]

Me and my dad found three of these guys at the back of our lawn a few days ago and they're still there. We don't have any Fuchsias in our garden but they seem to like the taste of our rhubarb plant (the ground there is littered with their poo xD). They're so adorable, I look for them every time I go feed the fishes. I really hope to see an Elephant Hawk Moth one day...it looks so beautiful

[Gruntphuttock]

@lagoondiver If you are observing them regularly, may be you should bring your caterpillars in when they look as if they are about to pupate and keep them safe until the moths emerge. Mind you, I'm not sure what the signs are that you should look for.......Good luck.

[Gruntphuttock]

@gneisenau321 Tempting to say we spit-roasted and fed a family of four for two days on it, but actually we just let it go in the garden and it was last seen chomping its way through the Fuchsias from where I assume it originally came. Haven't seen another one since.

[gneisenau321]

@Gruntphuttock

What happened to the caterpillar in the video? Did you see it turn into a moth or did you release it?

[Gruntphuttock]

@gneisenau321 You could say that. If you happen to step on one, they certainly spread out a long way!!! ;-))

[gneisenau321]

@Gruntphuttock

So its one of those "soft" caterpillars?

[Gruntphuttock]

No, not poisonous and no irritating hairs. Just handle it very gently.

[xbox360dm]

i came across one of these in our garden it was hugh, wanted to pick it up but didnt know if it was poisenous............