Thread subject: Diptera.info :: caterpillar

Posted by davenicholls on 09-06-2008 21:44
#1
I found this striking caterpillar on pond-side vegetation in Leicestershire. I don't think it is lepidopteran.... could it be a sawfly? Any ideas?

Posted by Juergen Peters on 09-06-2008 22:44
#2
Hello!

davenicholls wrote:
I found this striking caterpillar on pond-side vegetation in Leicestershire. I don't think it is lepidopteran...


It IS lepidopteran. It belongs to Helcystrogramma lutalella (Gelechiidae).
http://www.lepifo..._Lutatella

Posted by davenicholls on 11-06-2008 12:56
#3
Many thanks Jurgen. Its a rather drab moth for such an interesting caterpillar!

Posted by davenicholls on 13-06-2008 11:17
#4
Could it be Helcystogramma rufescens rather than lutatella? I've found out that rufescens is common in my area wheras lutatella has not been recorded here. The caterpillars look very similar and I can't see an obvious difference....
see UK Moths for rufescens photo: http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3571