What is this eating my rose leaves????????

Discussion in 'Roses' started by Marley Farley, Jul 7, 2005.

  1. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    :confused: I was dead heading & tidying the roses up yesterday & I came across this. Is it friend or foe?? I wondered if it was a moth caterpiller?? Would really like to know though. Anyone?? It is amazing to look at. :confused:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    [ 25. April 2006, 08:56 PM: Message edited by: Marley Farley ]
     
  2. Charlie

    Charlie Gardener

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    That is the most beautiful creature but I've never seen one like it before. I'll do a little research and see if I can come up with anything. I suggest you enter the photos in the competition they're amazing!
     
  3. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] It is beautiful isn't it, I haven't had any luck so far, have it tucked away for the moment. It seems quite happy.
    [​IMG]
     
  4. Charlie

    Charlie Gardener

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    I'm almost certain that it is a Vapourer Moth but it could also be a pale Tussock Moth
    Have a look at this site
    http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/

    [ 07. July 2005, 12:25 PM: Message edited by: Charlie ]
     
  5. Charlie

    Charlie Gardener

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    I've found out a bit more about the vapourer First of all its Rare and is of the Tussock Moth family. The female is wingless and never leaves the cocoon where it lays all its eggs and dies. When nearly full-fed the larvae of the male can be distinguished from those of the female. They will feed on a wide variety of trees and shrubs and tend to occur in gardens and parks and even really urban areas. The male flies mainly by day but is not easily netted so although seen may not be recorded with any confidence; records are more likely to be of larvae found in the garden.
    The moth itself is rather brown and ordinary looking compared with the extraordinary caterpillar and can give you a rash if handled.

    Have a look at this! http://www.overthegardengate.net/wildlife/archives/wl_tplate.asp?linkid=469

    [ 07. July 2005, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: Charlie ]
     
  6. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    :D Oh I say spot on Charlie, it's definately the vapourer. Haven't seen that site before. When I was looking at it I felt that I shouldn't touch it, it has that look about it. Will now see what more I can find out about it. Will let you know. [​IMG]
     
  7. jay

    jay Gardener

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    He/she really is beautiful! Send the pics of to somewhere mothy, they might like to see that.
     
  8. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    Never thought of that jay, might well do. It is very handsome I must agree. I have let it go again now, it seemed fine as it trundled off.
     
  9. hans

    hans Gardener

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  10. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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  11. Ladybird

    Ladybird Gardener

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    Marley, What a Beauty, do you keep it as a pet ? lol you keeping the Babies ? lol
    ---------
    Ladybird
     
  12. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    :D Prefer my pets a bit larger than that :D :D :D :D
     
  13. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] I have put the pictures back in again as they had disappeared!! Just in case anybody else finds one. It turned out to be a Vapourer Moth. [​IMG]
     
  14. Liz

    Liz Gardener

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    I haven't seen this one, but last year in the local park I saw 2 pale tussock moth caterpillars- quite the most spectacular caterpillar I've ever seen in England, flourescent lemon yellow with velvety black bands and red bristle spike at tail end:
    [​IMG]
    Needless to say this is not my photograph, but came from
    www.treknature.com
    As it was the best picture I could find to show what I saw!
    I identified it after much searching from the same site Charlie found.
    To add to all that, apparently it's not rare!

    [ 26. April 2006, 09:58 AM: Message edited by: Liz ]
     
  15. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] I was told the caterpillers are not rare, but the moths are.... Of the Vapourer. So I assume the birds must find them a delicacy... [​IMG]
     
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