Mullein Moth

This handsome caterpillar appeared in my garden eating our nice verbascum (or mullein) flowers.

Not strictly a Filnore Woods phenomenon but striking enough to earn a place on this blog.  It's one of the largest, most easily recognised caterpillars in Britain.  It doesn't hide or feed at night to avoid predators.  It boldly chomps away in broad daylight.

It wasn't alone.  There were about 30 of them on one plant and they stripped it of both leaves and flowers.  They will feed on Mullein (Verbascum) or Buddleia.  

Can you see four caterpillars in the photo below?

Three are easy to see but number four is peeping out from behind a narrow, vertical stem in the upper part of the picture.

When full size, up to 50mm long, the caterpillar drops to the ground and makes a pupa with a very hard shell.  It may wait three or up to five years before hatching out into the less conspicuous adult moth.

Photo: Rod Baker on 'naturespot'