The Caterpillar Chronicles.

For the benefit of all those who have requested more caterpillars, I have compiled an omnibus edition.

I have always had a penchant for caterpillars in reeking jars on the bedroom windowsill, but now I have grown up (!) I can usually raise them to maturity. No caterpillars were hurt in the taking of these photographs.

Starting with a nice little quintet.

 

 

Caterpillar in a Travelodge; I had to take my Death’s Head Hawkmoth caterpillars with me because no one else in the family would touch them.

 

 

Latency – they finally pupated!

 

 

Vulvular caterpillage – this distressing condition is fortunately very rare.

 

 

Chain of fools.

 

 

This young hawk moth larva is blissfully unaware that it is reading the Guardian upside down.

 

 

Lederhosen: shiny, shiny, shiny suit of leather.

 

 

Serving suggestion.

 

 

Puss on boot: a puss moth caterpillar settles for my husband’s walking boot as a suitable site to make its cocoon.

 

 

Another day, another caterpillar catastrophe. When I got back from the shops I discovered I had been wearing a caterpillar under my coat.

 

 

Last night I dreamt of mandibles.

 

 

More travels with caterpillars – this time on the Megabus from Dundee to Skye – sorry about poor quality pic.

 

 

I like a nice cup of tea in the morning.

 

 

And a nice plate of Samia Ricini larvae for my tea.

 

 

Oh Rose! thou art sick.

 

 

Accessorise; my Luna moth has hatched.

 

 

So have my puss moths. And they started getting jiggy with it straight away!

 

 

With the resultant jazzy caterpillars – I think they have a touch of the Commedia about them with their harlequin patterns.

 

 

Stylish Privet Hawk – loving the stripes!

 

 

Least said soonest mended.