Paphos Life

Found today under one sage bush in my garden this caterpillar
and searched at least 1 hour without any near result. Anybody
who has a clue what it could be? Watch the funny tail!! It is
certainly no oleander caterpillar...

Hi CM4

This is an Oleander Hawkmoth larva, i just posted a photo of one in the gallery! They are very common & surprisingly they feed on Oleander bushes, hence the name! They can grow up to 7cms before they pupate


Shane

Is it a Death's Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar ?

http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/acher ... s/larva-1/

Hi kdwoodie, thank you very much sending me the link.
It is certainly what you suggest: a Deaths Head Hawk Moth Caterpillar
hence it has this funny looking tail. Oleander caterpillar look different,
I have them every year on my Oleander bushes. Interesting that they appear in Britain.

Death's-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Wingspan 80-120 mm.

The largest moth to appear in Britain, sporting a wingspan of up to 12 or 13cm, this is a striking species, though it is not native. Immigrants arrive from southern Europe, usually several in each year, during late summer and autumn.

It has the unusual habit of entering beehives in search of honey, and if handled, emits a loud squeak.

The large caterpillar feeds on potato (Solanum tuberosum), and is sometimes found in potato fields during good immigration years.

Max

Opps I stand corrected!


Shane

Yes, have seen them in my Oleander hedge. As they do so much damage I try to exterminate them.

Dee