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Mystery larva

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 6:12 pm
by Vince Massimo
Can anyone help with this please? It's a moth :D
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There were 5 of them (each approximately 15mm long) on nettle at Lancing on the Sussex coast. The nearest I have got is Cream-spot Tiger Moth (having discounted Ruby Tiger), but unfortunately some of the critical diagnostic features like the head and legs are hidden.

Vince

Re: Mystery larva

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 6:43 pm
by Allan.W.
Hello Vince ,
Could they be late(but not final ) instar Garden Tigers ??
Allan.W.

Re: Mystery larva

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 5:52 pm
by Vince Massimo
Thanks Allan, a post-hibernation larva of that species would fit very well with what I saw.

Vince

Re: Mystery larva

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 3:06 pm
by MrSp0ck
quite a nice find, Garden Tigers used to be common in Croydon, but not now, a few years back had 3 larvae in my garden all had been got at by flies :cry:

Re: Mystery larva

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2019 11:21 am
by Vince Massimo
I revisited the nettle bed at Lancing on 9th March and found that the larvae had grown and changed into a much more recognisable form.
Garden Tiger - Lancing, Sussex 9-March-2019
Garden Tiger - Lancing, Sussex 9-March-2019
Garden Tiger - Lancing, Sussex 9-March-2019
Garden Tiger - Lancing, Sussex 9-March-2019
Some were still just out of hibernation.
Garden Tiger - Lancing, Sussex 9-March-2019
Garden Tiger - Lancing, Sussex 9-March-2019
Thanks again to Allan for identifying them as Garden Tiger moths.

Vince