Help Identify This Beast !

Anyone know what this monster is ? It and it's pals are currently chewing through my reasonably large Bay (the culinary variety) Laurus Nobilis a fair rate. This is a macro shot and the little critters are about 5-6mm in length. The first part of the body has six legs (insect) and the second section it drags along behind it. I guess it's some type of fly larvae. Any help would be great so I can spray the tree and save it. Ta

 

napalm - that's what you need :eek:

 

i'm just watching springwatch on beeb 2 and i think it might be a baby ladybird...i'll do some more research and come back to you

 

is this it?

 

I saw that one in the RHS book but sadly its not quite the same... I might not have helped by shooting such a closeup. This fella is very small and quite slender. Much more so than baby ladybird.

I have sprayed the whole bush/tree with a basic bugicide so will see if it has any eefect.

 

Could be immature Vapourer moth caterpillars.

 

hi Clarky
Have a look at this link - there are images under "plates". http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/ Its definitely not a vapourer as they have 3 distinct white tufts, even when quite immature. It does resemble some kind of sawfly larva, though, I would pick 'em off & put them on the bird table myself or just squish 'em! Sorry, you've resorted to spraying, it does tend to wipe out the good guys too & make them unsafe for the predators to eat. Also, if you spray, it means you can't use the leaves for cooking, at least for this season, though if it's being grown just for it's looks (cos they are lovely), then this shouldn't matter.