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Big fat caterpillar Bug found in my garden, its it friend or foe?

Michael SandsMichael Sands Posts: 67
in Problem solving
Hi, Could someone tell me what this little creature is, it moves fast and it's nearly 4 inches long when travelling on the ground. It was heading towards my pumpkins but that doesn't say anything... Is it pest or foe?
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Posts

  • Michael SandsMichael Sands Posts: 67
    Also what are these little fellas on my birch?so
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar, beautiful moth,
    Birch Sawfly larvae


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Try picking the hawk-moth caterpillar up. They thrash about and pretend to be a snake, it's very convincing.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2018
    If you found it on the ground it's probably looking for a place where it can pupate over winter ... it wants some soft soil or leaf litter where it can bury itself just under the surface ... pop it somewhere quiet and shady with soft soil and it'll be happy

    http://www.wildlifeinsight.com/british-moths/elephant-hawk-moth-and-caterpillar-deilephila-elpenor/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    they're all my friends


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Michael SandsMichael Sands Posts: 67
    Thanks Nutcutlet and to you Wild Edges and to you also Dovefromabove. I put it under a hedge earlier beside a mound of loose clay and wood ash...
  • granmagranma Posts: 1,933
    edited July 2018
    I used to find them around rose bay willowherb. .I think this is what it feeds on.but there will be others on here who do know for definate..the elephant hawk moth is interestingly beautiful  too, a coincidence .......I saw one yesterday
  • Michael SandsMichael Sands Posts: 67
    Granma, first for me to see one and the barb on its back can put you off them when you don't know what they are but he has loose clay to bury himself in now?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Very jealous of you Michael - we don't get them up here.
    Great that you have them in the garden. Hope you get a chance to see him in all his glory :) 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LauraRoslinLauraRoslin Posts: 496
    They are the most beautiful moth.  I'm very envious you have those.  
    I wish I was a glow worm
    A glow worm's never glum
    Cos how can you be grumpy
    When the sun shines out your bum!
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