These pages show a variety of moth caterpillars that can be found in typical habitats. This is unlike the organisation of adult moths as they tend to have a recognised and restricted flight period, often only
a couple of months. Caterpillars, on the other hand, are around much
longer. The larval stage of many species lasts maybe ten months, with
part-grown larvae hibernating over the winter. There are
caterpillars you would be almost guaranteed to find on heather moorland
but would never see in your garden, and vice versa. Other categories
include coast, scrub, carr & hedgerows, woodland, roadsides &
waste ground. Some species overlap habitats, inevitably. A selection of the
most likely species to be found in each habitat are shown.
It should be emphasised just how hard it is to find most larvae, and then how difficult it is to identify many without rearing them. Comments alongside many photographs provide guidance on identification and confusion species (many of which make them indistinguishable) and also the likelihood of finding them and when they might be found.
When looking for moth caterpillars, note that moth caterpillars may have up to five pairs of abdominal prolegs (unsegmented legs, usually found in pairs on the rear segments), but never have more than five pairs. Sawfly larvae, which can look similar, will have six or more pairs of abdominal prolegs. Different families of moths have their own characteristics, such as the Geometers often being 'looper' caterpillars with only two pairs of prolegs; Noctuids typically have
five pairs. As a
reference resource and a description of some of these family characteristics visit the excellent ukleps website. When taking photos for identification purposes then side on as well as dorsal photos of the elongated (not curled up) body are likely to be required.
All photos copyright Roy Leverton, unless otherwise stated.
Peach Blossom
(Final instar)
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Peach Blossom
(Penultimate instar)
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Yellow Horned
(Final instar)
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Pale Eggar
(Final instar)
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Northern Eggar
(Second Instar)
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Northern Eggar
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Emperor Moth
(First instar)
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Emperor Moth
(Second instar)
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Emperor Moth
(Third instar)
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Emperor Moth
(Fourth instar)
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Emperor Moth
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Poplar Hawk-moth
(Final instar)
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Elephant Hawk-moth
(4th instar)
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Elephant Hawk-moth
(Final instar)
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Common Carpet
(Final instar)
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Shoulder-stripe
(Final instar)
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The Streamer
(Final instar)
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July Highflyer
(Final instar)
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Small Phoenix
(Final instar)
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Red-green Carpet
(Final instar)
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Water Carpet
(Final instar)
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Winter Moth
(Final instar)
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November Moth
(Final instar)
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Twin-spot Carpet
(Final instar)
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The Rivulet
(Final instar)
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Sandy Carpet
(Final instar)
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Foxglove Pug
(Final instar)
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Currant Pug
(Final instar)
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The Streak
(Final instar)
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The Magpie
(Final instar)
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The Magpie
(Final instar)
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The Magpie
(Pupa)
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Brimstone Moth
(Final instar)
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Brimstone Moth
(Final instar)
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Canary-shouldered Thorn
(Final instar)
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Early Thorn
(Final instar)
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Lunar Thorn
(Final instar)
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Scalloped Hazel
(Final instar)
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Scalloped Hazel
(Final instar)
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Scalloped Hazel
(Final instar)
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Scalloped Oak
(Final instar)
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Swallow-tailed Moth
(Final instar)
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Feathered Thorn
(Final instar)
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March Moth
(Final instar)
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Pale Brindled Beauty
(Final instar)
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Peppered Moth
(Final instar)
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Scarce Umber
(Final instar)
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Mottled Umber
(Final instar)
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Willow Beauty
(Final instar)
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The Engrailed
(Final instar)
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Common Wave
(Final instar)
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Light Emerald
(Final instar)
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Puss Moth
(3rd instar)
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Puss Moth
(Final instar)
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Sallow Kitten
(2nd instar)
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Sallow Kitten
(Penultimate instar)
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Iron Prominent
(Final instar)
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Iron Prominent
(Final instar)
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Pebble Prominent
(Final instar)
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Pebble Prominent
(Final instar)
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Swallow Prominent
(Final instar)
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Swallow Prominent
(Final instar)
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Pale Prominent
(Final instar)
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Coxcomb Prominent
(Early final instar)
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Buff-tip
(Early final instar)
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The Herald
(Final instar)
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The Snout
(Final instar)
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Yellow-tail
(Final instar)
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The Vapourer
(Final instar)
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White Ermine
(Final instar)
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Ruby Tiger
(Final instar)
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Ruby Tiger
(Penultimate instar)
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Garden Tiger
(First instar)
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Garden Tiger
(Final instar)
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The Spectacle
(Final instar)
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Nut-tree Tussock
(Final instar)
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Grey Dagger
(Penultimate instar)
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The Miller
(Final instar)
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The Miller
(Penultimate instar)
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Green-brindled Crescent
(Final instar)
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Angle Shades
(Final instar)
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Angle Shades
(Final instar)
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Clouded Drab
(Final instar)
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Clouded Drab
(Final instar)
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Common Quaker
(Final instar)
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Hebrew Character
(Final instar)
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Pale-shouldered Brocade
(Final instar)
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Pale-shouldered Brocade
(Final instar)
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Broom Moth
(Final instar)
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Broom Moth
(Final instar)
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The Lychnis
(Final instar)
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Purple Clay
(Final instar)
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Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
(Final instar)
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Lesser Yellow Underwing
(Final instar)
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Double Dart
(Full grown)
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Dotted Clay
(Final instar)
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