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Hello

I saw that larva running rather fast on wet peat in an alder wood (Is?re, France, 24/04/06). I don't even know if it's a butterfly caterpillar or dipter larva.
Any idea?

Thanks
Christophe

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another view

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Hi Christophe,

My guess would be some kind of Arctiidae (Tigermoth), but I'm no expert.

Jan Willem

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Thanks a lot, Jan. In fact, it's probably a butterfly caterpillar.

Christophe

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Artiidae is indeed the most likely answer, though other macromoth families may have hairy caterpillars. I think Diptera larva are never hairy like this, but I could easily be wrong.

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ok thanks Xespok
A French naturalist suggested me "Pterophoridae". I know Arctiidae caterpillars, they are bigger than the one illustrated here.

Christophe

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I still would stick to Arctiidae or Nolidae (Arctiidae/Nolinae). A propos, early instar Arctiidae larvae (even Arctia caja, for example) are quite small (and some of them are hairy almost like that one).

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ok Black
thank you, I try to get further informations.