caterpillarsa brief guideAlthough many caterpillars are plain green andgo unnoticed, others have amazing colours,beautiful markings or weird shapes.

Vapourer M

ay-S

ep

Lackey A

pr-Jun

R. T

homps

on

D. G

reen

Further informationYou can find more information about mothsand caterpillars on the Moths Count websiteat www.mothscount.org, which also haslinks to other web sources. Useful bookson caterpillars include:

The Colour Identification Guideto Caterpillars of the British IslesPorter, J. 1997 (Viking)

Field Guide to the Caterpillarsof Britain and EuropeCarter, D. & Hargreaves, B. 2001 (Collins)

British Moths & Butterflies:a photographic guideManley, C. 2008 (A&C Black)

Butterfly Conservation is working to savebutterflies, moths and their habitats.Why not become a member?More information atwww.butterfly-conservation.org

Moths Count is a partnership of manyorganisations, individuals and businesses, ledby Butterfly Conservation. Principal fundersinclude the Heritage Lottery Fund, ButterflyConservation, British Entomological and NaturalHistory Society, City Bridge Trust, CountrysideCouncil for Wales, Environment Agency,Natural England, Northern Ireland EnvironmentAgency, Royal Entomological Society, RSPBand Scottish Natural Heritage. Many otherorganisations are involved, providing supportand helping to host events. Full details at:

www.mothscount.orgManor Yard East LulworthWareham Dorset BH20 5QPPhone 01929 406009nmrs@butterfly-conservation.org

Text by Susan Anders. Photographs by John Bebbington, Rob Edmunds,Peter Eeles, Dave Green, Les Hill, Dan Hoare, RoyLeverton, Chris Manley, Mark Parsons, Neil Sherman,Keith Tailby, Robert Thompson and Martin Warren.

Butterfly ConservationCompany limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468)Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QPCharity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)Printed on 100% recycled stock including 75% post-consumer waste.

mc7

Designe

d an

d prod

uced

by

nect

arcrea

tive 01

942 68

1648

Garden plants for caterpillarsA garden with a greater variety of plantsis likely to be home to more types ofcaterpillar. The widest range is found onnative trees, especially willow, birch andoak, if you have room. A mixed hedge ofhawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, barberry,beech, spindle and privet will supportmany species, particularly if not trimmedtoo often. Fruit trees and bushes are alsogood, especially apple, plum and currant.If you have a wall or fence to cover, thebest climbers are roses, honeysuckle(Lonicera), clematis, hop and ivy.

One of the best (and easiest!) things youcan do is leave an area wild with a mix ofnative grasses allowed to grow long andcommon ‘weeds’, particularly docks,bramble, plantains, dandelions, nettles,bedstraws and bird’s-foot-trefoils. It isvery beneficial to limit management of thewhole garden: restricting pesticide use,tolerating a few weeds and leaving someold vegetation to provide places for thecaterpillars to hide, pupate or overwinter.

A few native plants which are used bycaterpillars are attractive enough for bedsand borders, including foxglove, primroseand thyme. Some garden plants may suitsome caterpillars, but chances may behigher with plants which are related tolocal native or naturalised species. Trycultivated forms of mulleins (Verbascum),saxifrages (Saxifraga), dead-nettles(Lamium), yarrows (Achillea), knapweeds(Centaurea) and valerians (Centranthus).The flowers of the last three are alsogood sources of nectar for adult mothsand butterflies.

Rearing caterpillarsOne way to identify a difficult caterpillar isto rear it to the adult stage, which may beeasier to recognise. If you want to try this,you will need to note what kind of plantthe caterpillar was on and provide thesame type of leaves for it to eat.

Caterpillars can be reared in a ventilatedplastic container large enough for a fewstems of the food-plant. Place it out ofdirect sunlight to avoid overheating. Keepthe leaves fresh by putting the stems in alittle water and replace them every day. Apiece of paper towel in the base will helpto absorb condensation. Hygiene is vital,so all droppings must be removed daily,along with old leaves and other debris.

Some caterpillars will pupate fastened toa plant stem, but you should also providesome soil or leaf litter for them to burythemselves for pupation.

Pupae are best kept somewhere that issheltered and frost-free but unheated,such as a garage or shed. It can bedifficult to achieve the required humidityand temperature, but if you are lucky theadult will eventually emerge. The timingfor this will vary with the species, from afew weeks to a year.

Some species use silk to fasten leavestogether and hide inside to eat. Othersspin a large silk web which protects awhole brood of caterpillars.

Some caterpillars make less effort tohide themselves as they have developedother means of discouraging predators,such as a bitter taste or unpleasant hairsor bristles to irritate the throat. (As somecan irritate human skin or lungs, it iswiser not to handle any hairy caterpillar.)Many such caterpillars are conspicuousas they use bright colours to warn thatthey are distasteful.

A few large moth species have evolvedcaterpillars with eye-like markings, spikesthat resemble stings, or weird postures,all designed to scare off predatorsalthough they are actually harmless.

The time taken for caterpillars to reach fullsize varies with the species, from a fewweeks to a few years. When fully grown acaterpillar turns into a pupa, with a toughouter case inside which the adult moth orbutterfly forms and from which it willemerge. Many caterpillars burrow intosoil to pupate, others fasten themselvesto a plant. Some spin a silk cocoon andpupate inside it for extra protection.

In many cases the pupa is the stage thatoverwinters, although more species passthe winter as caterpillars, while someoverwinter as adults and a few as eggs.

About caterpillarsIf you find a caterpillar it is more likely tobe a moth than a butterfly, as there areover 2,500 types of moth in Britain butfewer than 70 butterflies. A great manycaterpillars are hard to identify as they areplain green or brown. This leaflet showssome moth caterpillars (and a fewbutterflies) that are relatively widespreador noticeable and have features thatmake them easier to recognise. Even so,they can be confused with some otherspecies (for example there are severaltypes of Burnet which look similar, and aBuff Ermine caterpillar looks very like aWhite Ermine). More images can be seenin the resources listed at the end of theleaflet or at www.mothscount.org

Female moths and butterflies lay eggsfrom which caterpillars hatch. Most eggsare laid on a suitable plant, often singly orsometimes in a batch. Some caterpillarscan eat a wide range of plants but mostare restricted to certain types, so theplant it is found on can be a very usefulclue to a caterpillar’s identity. Usually it isthe leaves that are eaten, but there arecaterpillars which eat the flowers, fruits,roots or stems of plants. The caterpillarsof many small moths burrow inside theleaves, where their tunnels form visible‘leaf mines’, even though the tinycaterpillars are hard to see.

A caterpillar’s purpose in life is to eat andgrow, as this is the only stage in the life-cycle where growth is possible. However,a caterpillar’s skin cannot stretch to allowgradual growth, but instead must be splitand moulted so that the caterpillar canexpand in stages called ‘instars’.

As well as increasing in size, each instarmay also change in colour and otherfeatures, which complicates identification.

Caterpillars are also important food for arange of other animals, especially birds.Consequently they have evolved ways ofavoiding predators. One very commonmethod is camouflage to blend into theirbackground, which is why so manycaterpillars are green or brown. Somehave elaborate markings to imitate theirfood-plants more closely.

Others have evolved body shapes thatresemble their background. A large familyof moths have caterpillars which look liketwigs. They are called ‘geometrids’ (fromthe Greek for ‘ground’ and ‘measure’)after their looping walk. The ScallopedHazel and Swallow-tailed Moth areshown, but many others look similar.

Some caterpillars have bold patterns orodd shapes to disguise their outlines. Afew attach bits of leaf to their bodies toimprove their camouflage. Others, suchas the group called bagworms, constructcomplete casings which they live insideand carry around with them.

Leaf mine (Stigmella lapponica)

Swallow-tailed MothAug-Jun

Comma pupa

Scalloped HazelJun-Sep

Small Eggar webApr-Jul

ImagesThe caterpillars illustrated arenot to scale. The months indicatethe period when the species occursin the caterpillar stage. Note thatsome species continue ascaterpillars through the winter.

caterpillarsa brief guideAlthough many caterpillars are plain green andgo unnoticed, others have amazing colours,beautiful markings or weird shapes.

Vapourer M

ay-S

ep

Lackey A

pr-Jun

R. T

homps

on

D. G

reen

Further informationYou can find more information about mothsand caterpillars on the Moths Count websiteat www.mothscount.org, which also haslinks to other web sources. Useful bookson caterpillars include:

The Colour Identification Guideto Caterpillars of the British IslesPorter, J. 1997 (Viking)

Field Guide to the Caterpillarsof Britain and EuropeCarter, D. & Hargreaves, B. 2001 (Collins)

British Moths & Butterflies:a photographic guideManley, C. 2008 (A&C Black)

Butterfly Conservation is working to savebutterflies, moths and their habitats.Why not become a member?More information atwww.butterfly-conservation.org

Moths Count is a partnership of manyorganisations, individuals and businesses, ledby Butterfly Conservation. Principal fundersinclude the Heritage Lottery Fund, ButterflyConservation, British Entomological and NaturalHistory Society, City Bridge Trust, CountrysideCouncil for Wales, Environment Agency,Natural England, Northern Ireland EnvironmentAgency, Royal Entomological Society, RSPBand Scottish Natural Heritage. Many otherorganisations are involved, providing supportand helping to host events. Full details at:

www.mothscount.orgManor Yard East LulworthWareham Dorset BH20 5QPPhone 01929 406009nmrs@butterfly-conservation.org

Text by Susan Anders. Photographs by John Bebbington, Rob Edmunds,Peter Eeles, Dave Green, Les Hill, Dan Hoare, RoyLeverton, Chris Manley, Mark Parsons, Neil Sherman,Keith Tailby, Robert Thompson and Martin Warren.

Butterfly ConservationCompany limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468)Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QPCharity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)Printed on 100% recycled stock including 75% post-consumer waste.

mc7

Designe

d an

d prod

uced

by

nect

arcrea

tive 01

942 68

1648

Garden plants for caterpillarsA garden with a greater variety of plantsis likely to be home to more types ofcaterpillar. The widest range is found onnative trees, especially willow, birch andoak, if you have room. A mixed hedge ofhawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, barberry,beech, spindle and privet will supportmany species, particularly if not trimmedtoo often. Fruit trees and bushes are alsogood, especially apple, plum and currant.If you have a wall or fence to cover, thebest climbers are roses, honeysuckle(Lonicera), clematis, hop and ivy.

One of the best (and easiest!) things youcan do is leave an area wild with a mix ofnative grasses allowed to grow long andcommon ‘weeds’, particularly docks,bramble, plantains, dandelions, nettles,bedstraws and bird’s-foot-trefoils. It isvery beneficial to limit management of thewhole garden: restricting pesticide use,tolerating a few weeds and leaving someold vegetation to provide places for thecaterpillars to hide, pupate or overwinter.

A few native plants which are used bycaterpillars are attractive enough for bedsand borders, including foxglove, primroseand thyme. Some garden plants may suitsome caterpillars, but chances may behigher with plants which are related tolocal native or naturalised species. Trycultivated forms of mulleins (Verbascum),saxifrages (Saxifraga), dead-nettles(Lamium), yarrows (Achillea), knapweeds(Centaurea) and valerians (Centranthus).The flowers of the last three are alsogood sources of nectar for adult mothsand butterflies.

Rearing caterpillarsOne way to identify a difficult caterpillar isto rear it to the adult stage, which may beeasier to recognise. If you want to try this,you will need to note what kind of plantthe caterpillar was on and provide thesame type of leaves for it to eat.

Caterpillars can be reared in a ventilatedplastic container large enough for a fewstems of the food-plant. Place it out ofdirect sunlight to avoid overheating. Keepthe leaves fresh by putting the stems in alittle water and replace them every day. Apiece of paper towel in the base will helpto absorb condensation. Hygiene is vital,so all droppings must be removed daily,along with old leaves and other debris.

Some caterpillars will pupate fastened toa plant stem, but you should also providesome soil or leaf litter for them to burythemselves for pupation.

Pupae are best kept somewhere that issheltered and frost-free but unheated,such as a garage or shed. It can bedifficult to achieve the required humidityand temperature, but if you are lucky theadult will eventually emerge. The timingfor this will vary with the species, from afew weeks to a year.

Some species use silk to fasten leavestogether and hide inside to eat. Othersspin a large silk web which protects awhole brood of caterpillars.

Some caterpillars make less effort tohide themselves as they have developedother means of discouraging predators,such as a bitter taste or unpleasant hairsor bristles to irritate the throat. (As somecan irritate human skin or lungs, it iswiser not to handle any hairy caterpillar.)Many such caterpillars are conspicuousas they use bright colours to warn thatthey are distasteful.

A few large moth species have evolvedcaterpillars with eye-like markings, spikesthat resemble stings, or weird postures,all designed to scare off predatorsalthough they are actually harmless.

The time taken for caterpillars to reach fullsize varies with the species, from a fewweeks to a few years. When fully grown acaterpillar turns into a pupa, with a toughouter case inside which the adult moth orbutterfly forms and from which it willemerge. Many caterpillars burrow intosoil to pupate, others fasten themselvesto a plant. Some spin a silk cocoon andpupate inside it for extra protection.

In many cases the pupa is the stage thatoverwinters, although more species passthe winter as caterpillars, while someoverwinter as adults and a few as eggs.

About caterpillarsIf you find a caterpillar it is more likely tobe a moth than a butterfly, as there areover 2,500 types of moth in Britain butfewer than 70 butterflies. A great manycaterpillars are hard to identify as they areplain green or brown. This leaflet showssome moth caterpillars (and a fewbutterflies) that are relatively widespreador noticeable and have features thatmake them easier to recognise. Even so,they can be confused with some otherspecies (for example there are severaltypes of Burnet which look similar, and aBuff Ermine caterpillar looks very like aWhite Ermine). More images can be seenin the resources listed at the end of theleaflet or at www.mothscount.org

Female moths and butterflies lay eggsfrom which caterpillars hatch. Most eggsare laid on a suitable plant, often singly orsometimes in a batch. Some caterpillarscan eat a wide range of plants but mostare restricted to certain types, so theplant it is found on can be a very usefulclue to a caterpillar’s identity. Usually it isthe leaves that are eaten, but there arecaterpillars which eat the flowers, fruits,roots or stems of plants. The caterpillarsof many small moths burrow inside theleaves, where their tunnels form visible‘leaf mines’, even though the tinycaterpillars are hard to see.

A caterpillar’s purpose in life is to eat andgrow, as this is the only stage in the life-cycle where growth is possible. However,a caterpillar’s skin cannot stretch to allowgradual growth, but instead must be splitand moulted so that the caterpillar canexpand in stages called ‘instars’.

As well as increasing in size, each instarmay also change in colour and otherfeatures, which complicates identification.

Caterpillars are also important food for arange of other animals, especially birds.Consequently they have evolved ways ofavoiding predators. One very commonmethod is camouflage to blend into theirbackground, which is why so manycaterpillars are green or brown. Somehave elaborate markings to imitate theirfood-plants more closely.

Others have evolved body shapes thatresemble their background. A large familyof moths have caterpillars which look liketwigs. They are called ‘geometrids’ (fromthe Greek for ‘ground’ and ‘measure’)after their looping walk. The ScallopedHazel and Swallow-tailed Moth areshown, but many others look similar.

Some caterpillars have bold patterns orodd shapes to disguise their outlines. Afew attach bits of leaf to their bodies toimprove their camouflage. Others, suchas the group called bagworms, constructcomplete casings which they live insideand carry around with them.

Leaf mine (Stigmella lapponica)

Swallow-tailed MothAug-Jun

Comma pupa

Scalloped HazelJun-Sep

Small Eggar webApr-Jul

ImagesThe caterpillars illustrated arenot to scale. The months indicatethe period when the species occursin the caterpillar stage. Note thatsome species continue ascaterpillars through the winter.

caterpillarsa brief guideAlthough many caterpillars are plain green andgo unnoticed, others have amazing colours,beautiful markings or weird shapes.

Vapourer M

ay-S

ep

Lackey A

pr-Jun

R. T

homps

on

D. G

reen

Further informationYou can find more information about mothsand caterpillars on the Moths Count websiteat www.mothscount.org, which also haslinks to other web sources. Useful bookson caterpillars include:

The Colour Identification Guideto Caterpillars of the British IslesPorter, J. 1997 (Viking)

Field Guide to the Caterpillarsof Britain and EuropeCarter, D. & Hargreaves, B. 2001 (Collins)

British Moths & Butterflies:a photographic guideManley, C. 2008 (A&C Black)

Butterfly Conservation is working to savebutterflies, moths and their habitats.Why not become a member?More information atwww.butterfly-conservation.org

Moths Count is a partnership of manyorganisations, individuals and businesses, ledby Butterfly Conservation. Principal fundersinclude the Heritage Lottery Fund, ButterflyConservation, British Entomological and NaturalHistory Society, City Bridge Trust, CountrysideCouncil for Wales, Environment Agency,Natural England, Northern Ireland EnvironmentAgency, Royal Entomological Society, RSPBand Scottish Natural Heritage. Many otherorganisations are involved, providing supportand helping to host events. Full details at:

www.mothscount.orgManor Yard East LulworthWareham Dorset BH20 5QPPhone 01929 406009nmrs@butterfly-conservation.org

Text by Susan Anders. Photographs by John Bebbington, Rob Edmunds,Peter Eeles, Dave Green, Les Hill, Dan Hoare, RoyLeverton, Chris Manley, Mark Parsons, Neil Sherman,Keith Tailby, Robert Thompson and Martin Warren.

Butterfly ConservationCompany limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468)Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QPCharity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)Printed on 100% recycled stock including 75% post-consumer waste.

mc7

Designe

d an

d prod

uced

by

nect

arcrea

tive 01

942 68

1648

Garden plants for caterpillarsA garden with a greater variety of plantsis likely to be home to more types ofcaterpillar. The widest range is found onnative trees, especially willow, birch andoak, if you have room. A mixed hedge ofhawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, barberry,beech, spindle and privet will supportmany species, particularly if not trimmedtoo often. Fruit trees and bushes are alsogood, especially apple, plum and currant.If you have a wall or fence to cover, thebest climbers are roses, honeysuckle(Lonicera), clematis, hop and ivy.

One of the best (and easiest!) things youcan do is leave an area wild with a mix ofnative grasses allowed to grow long andcommon ‘weeds’, particularly docks,bramble, plantains, dandelions, nettles,bedstraws and bird’s-foot-trefoils. It isvery beneficial to limit management of thewhole garden: restricting pesticide use,tolerating a few weeds and leaving someold vegetation to provide places for thecaterpillars to hide, pupate or overwinter.

A few native plants which are used bycaterpillars are attractive enough for bedsand borders, including foxglove, primroseand thyme. Some garden plants may suitsome caterpillars, but chances may behigher with plants which are related tolocal native or naturalised species. Trycultivated forms of mulleins (Verbascum),saxifrages (Saxifraga), dead-nettles(Lamium), yarrows (Achillea), knapweeds(Centaurea) and valerians (Centranthus).The flowers of the last three are alsogood sources of nectar for adult mothsand butterflies.

Rearing caterpillarsOne way to identify a difficult caterpillar isto rear it to the adult stage, which may beeasier to recognise. If you want to try this,you will need to note what kind of plantthe caterpillar was on and provide thesame type of leaves for it to eat.

Caterpillars can be reared in a ventilatedplastic container large enough for a fewstems of the food-plant. Place it out ofdirect sunlight to avoid overheating. Keepthe leaves fresh by putting the stems in alittle water and replace them every day. Apiece of paper towel in the base will helpto absorb condensation. Hygiene is vital,so all droppings must be removed daily,along with old leaves and other debris.

Some caterpillars will pupate fastened toa plant stem, but you should also providesome soil or leaf litter for them to burythemselves for pupation.

Pupae are best kept somewhere that issheltered and frost-free but unheated,such as a garage or shed. It can bedifficult to achieve the required humidityand temperature, but if you are lucky theadult will eventually emerge. The timingfor this will vary with the species, from afew weeks to a year.

Some species use silk to fasten leavestogether and hide inside to eat. Othersspin a large silk web which protects awhole brood of caterpillars.

Some caterpillars make less effort tohide themselves as they have developedother means of discouraging predators,such as a bitter taste or unpleasant hairsor bristles to irritate the throat. (As somecan irritate human skin or lungs, it iswiser not to handle any hairy caterpillar.)Many such caterpillars are conspicuousas they use bright colours to warn thatthey are distasteful.

A few large moth species have evolvedcaterpillars with eye-like markings, spikesthat resemble stings, or weird postures,all designed to scare off predatorsalthough they are actually harmless.

The time taken for caterpillars to reach fullsize varies with the species, from a fewweeks to a few years. When fully grown acaterpillar turns into a pupa, with a toughouter case inside which the adult moth orbutterfly forms and from which it willemerge. Many caterpillars burrow intosoil to pupate, others fasten themselvesto a plant. Some spin a silk cocoon andpupate inside it for extra protection.

In many cases the pupa is the stage thatoverwinters, although more species passthe winter as caterpillars, while someoverwinter as adults and a few as eggs.

About caterpillarsIf you find a caterpillar it is more likely tobe a moth than a butterfly, as there areover 2,500 types of moth in Britain butfewer than 70 butterflies. A great manycaterpillars are hard to identify as they areplain green or brown. This leaflet showssome moth caterpillars (and a fewbutterflies) that are relatively widespreador noticeable and have features thatmake them easier to recognise. Even so,they can be confused with some otherspecies (for example there are severaltypes of Burnet which look similar, and aBuff Ermine caterpillar looks very like aWhite Ermine). More images can be seenin the resources listed at the end of theleaflet or at www.mothscount.org

Female moths and butterflies lay eggsfrom which caterpillars hatch. Most eggsare laid on a suitable plant, often singly orsometimes in a batch. Some caterpillarscan eat a wide range of plants but mostare restricted to certain types, so theplant it is found on can be a very usefulclue to a caterpillar’s identity. Usually it isthe leaves that are eaten, but there arecaterpillars which eat the flowers, fruits,roots or stems of plants. The caterpillarsof many small moths burrow inside theleaves, where their tunnels form visible‘leaf mines’, even though the tinycaterpillars are hard to see.

A caterpillar’s purpose in life is to eat andgrow, as this is the only stage in the life-cycle where growth is possible. However,a caterpillar’s skin cannot stretch to allowgradual growth, but instead must be splitand moulted so that the caterpillar canexpand in stages called ‘instars’.

As well as increasing in size, each instarmay also change in colour and otherfeatures, which complicates identification.

Caterpillars are also important food for arange of other animals, especially birds.Consequently they have evolved ways ofavoiding predators. One very commonmethod is camouflage to blend into theirbackground, which is why so manycaterpillars are green or brown. Somehave elaborate markings to imitate theirfood-plants more closely.

Others have evolved body shapes thatresemble their background. A large familyof moths have caterpillars which look liketwigs. They are called ‘geometrids’ (fromthe Greek for ‘ground’ and ‘measure’)after their looping walk. The ScallopedHazel and Swallow-tailed Moth areshown, but many others look similar.

Some caterpillars have bold patterns orodd shapes to disguise their outlines. Afew attach bits of leaf to their bodies toimprove their camouflage. Others, suchas the group called bagworms, constructcomplete casings which they live insideand carry around with them.

Leaf mine (Stigmella lapponica)

Swallow-tailed MothAug-Jun

Comma pupa

Scalloped HazelJun-Sep

Small Eggar webApr-Jul

ImagesThe caterpillars illustrated arenot to scale. The months indicatethe period when the species occursin the caterpillar stage. Note thatsome species continue ascaterpillars through the winter.

caterpillarsa brief guideAlthough many caterpillars are plain green andgo unnoticed, others have amazing colours,beautiful markings or weird shapes.

Vapourer M

ay-S

ep

Lackey A

pr-Jun

R. T

homps

on

D. G

reen

Further informationYou can find more information about mothsand caterpillars on the Moths Count websiteat www.mothscount.org, which also haslinks to other web sources. Useful bookson caterpillars include:

The Colour Identification Guideto Caterpillars of the British IslesPorter, J. 1997 (Viking)

Field Guide to the Caterpillarsof Britain and EuropeCarter, D. & Hargreaves, B. 2001 (Collins)

British Moths & Butterflies:a photographic guideManley, C. 2008 (A&C Black)

Butterfly Conservation is working to savebutterflies, moths and their habitats.Why not become a member?More information atwww.butterfly-conservation.org

Moths Count is a partnership of manyorganisations, individuals and businesses, ledby Butterfly Conservation. Principal fundersinclude the Heritage Lottery Fund, ButterflyConservation, British Entomological and NaturalHistory Society, City Bridge Trust, CountrysideCouncil for Wales, Environment Agency,Natural England, Northern Ireland EnvironmentAgency, Royal Entomological Society, RSPBand Scottish Natural Heritage. Many otherorganisations are involved, providing supportand helping to host events. Full details at:

www.mothscount.orgManor Yard East LulworthWareham Dorset BH20 5QPPhone 01929 406009nmrs@butterfly-conservation.org

Text by Susan Anders. Photographs by John Bebbington, Rob Edmunds,Peter Eeles, Dave Green, Les Hill, Dan Hoare, RoyLeverton, Chris Manley, Mark Parsons, Neil Sherman,Keith Tailby, Robert Thompson and Martin Warren.

Butterfly ConservationCompany limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468)Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QPCharity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)Printed on 100% recycled stock including 75% post-consumer waste.

mc7

Designe

d an

d prod

uced

by

nect

arcrea

tive 01

942 68

1648

Garden plants for caterpillarsA garden with a greater variety of plantsis likely to be home to more types ofcaterpillar. The widest range is found onnative trees, especially willow, birch andoak, if you have room. A mixed hedge ofhawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, barberry,beech, spindle and privet will supportmany species, particularly if not trimmedtoo often. Fruit trees and bushes are alsogood, especially apple, plum and currant.If you have a wall or fence to cover, thebest climbers are roses, honeysuckle(Lonicera), clematis, hop and ivy.

One of the best (and easiest!) things youcan do is leave an area wild with a mix ofnative grasses allowed to grow long andcommon ‘weeds’, particularly docks,bramble, plantains, dandelions, nettles,bedstraws and bird’s-foot-trefoils. It isvery beneficial to limit management of thewhole garden: restricting pesticide use,tolerating a few weeds and leaving someold vegetation to provide places for thecaterpillars to hide, pupate or overwinter.

A few native plants which are used bycaterpillars are attractive enough for bedsand borders, including foxglove, primroseand thyme. Some garden plants may suitsome caterpillars, but chances may behigher with plants which are related tolocal native or naturalised species. Trycultivated forms of mulleins (Verbascum),saxifrages (Saxifraga), dead-nettles(Lamium), yarrows (Achillea), knapweeds(Centaurea) and valerians (Centranthus).The flowers of the last three are alsogood sources of nectar for adult mothsand butterflies.

Rearing caterpillarsOne way to identify a difficult caterpillar isto rear it to the adult stage, which may beeasier to recognise. If you want to try this,you will need to note what kind of plantthe caterpillar was on and provide thesame type of leaves for it to eat.

Caterpillars can be reared in a ventilatedplastic container large enough for a fewstems of the food-plant. Place it out ofdirect sunlight to avoid overheating. Keepthe leaves fresh by putting the stems in alittle water and replace them every day. Apiece of paper towel in the base will helpto absorb condensation. Hygiene is vital,so all droppings must be removed daily,along with old leaves and other debris.

Some caterpillars will pupate fastened toa plant stem, but you should also providesome soil or leaf litter for them to burythemselves for pupation.

Pupae are best kept somewhere that issheltered and frost-free but unheated,such as a garage or shed. It can bedifficult to achieve the required humidityand temperature, but if you are lucky theadult will eventually emerge. The timingfor this will vary with the species, from afew weeks to a year.

Some species use silk to fasten leavestogether and hide inside to eat. Othersspin a large silk web which protects awhole brood of caterpillars.

Some caterpillars make less effort tohide themselves as they have developedother means of discouraging predators,such as a bitter taste or unpleasant hairsor bristles to irritate the throat. (As somecan irritate human skin or lungs, it iswiser not to handle any hairy caterpillar.)Many such caterpillars are conspicuousas they use bright colours to warn thatthey are distasteful.

A few large moth species have evolvedcaterpillars with eye-like markings, spikesthat resemble stings, or weird postures,all designed to scare off predatorsalthough they are actually harmless.

The time taken for caterpillars to reach fullsize varies with the species, from a fewweeks to a few years. When fully grown acaterpillar turns into a pupa, with a toughouter case inside which the adult moth orbutterfly forms and from which it willemerge. Many caterpillars burrow intosoil to pupate, others fasten themselvesto a plant. Some spin a silk cocoon andpupate inside it for extra protection.

In many cases the pupa is the stage thatoverwinters, although more species passthe winter as caterpillars, while someoverwinter as adults and a few as eggs.

About caterpillarsIf you find a caterpillar it is more likely tobe a moth than a butterfly, as there areover 2,500 types of moth in Britain butfewer than 70 butterflies. A great manycaterpillars are hard to identify as they areplain green or brown. This leaflet showssome moth caterpillars (and a fewbutterflies) that are relatively widespreador noticeable and have features thatmake them easier to recognise. Even so,they can be confused with some otherspecies (for example there are severaltypes of Burnet which look similar, and aBuff Ermine caterpillar looks very like aWhite Ermine). More images can be seenin the resources listed at the end of theleaflet or at www.mothscount.org

Female moths and butterflies lay eggsfrom which caterpillars hatch. Most eggsare laid on a suitable plant, often singly orsometimes in a batch. Some caterpillarscan eat a wide range of plants but mostare restricted to certain types, so theplant it is found on can be a very usefulclue to a caterpillar’s identity. Usually it isthe leaves that are eaten, but there arecaterpillars which eat the flowers, fruits,roots or stems of plants. The caterpillarsof many small moths burrow inside theleaves, where their tunnels form visible‘leaf mines’, even though the tinycaterpillars are hard to see.

A caterpillar’s purpose in life is to eat andgrow, as this is the only stage in the life-cycle where growth is possible. However,a caterpillar’s skin cannot stretch to allowgradual growth, but instead must be splitand moulted so that the caterpillar canexpand in stages called ‘instars’.

As well as increasing in size, each instarmay also change in colour and otherfeatures, which complicates identification.

Caterpillars are also important food for arange of other animals, especially birds.Consequently they have evolved ways ofavoiding predators. One very commonmethod is camouflage to blend into theirbackground, which is why so manycaterpillars are green or brown. Somehave elaborate markings to imitate theirfood-plants more closely.

Others have evolved body shapes thatresemble their background. A large familyof moths have caterpillars which look liketwigs. They are called ‘geometrids’ (fromthe Greek for ‘ground’ and ‘measure’)after their looping walk. The ScallopedHazel and Swallow-tailed Moth areshown, but many others look similar.

Some caterpillars have bold patterns orodd shapes to disguise their outlines. Afew attach bits of leaf to their bodies toimprove their camouflage. Others, suchas the group called bagworms, constructcomplete casings which they live insideand carry around with them.

Leaf mine (Stigmella lapponica)

Swallow-tailed MothAug-Jun

Comma pupa

Scalloped HazelJun-Sep

Small Eggar webApr-Jul

ImagesThe caterpillars illustrated arenot to scale. The months indicatethe period when the species occursin the caterpillar stage. Note thatsome species continue ascaterpillars through the winter.

Poplar Hawk-mothJun-Sep

MagpieAug-Jun

Red AdmiralJun-Nov

Garden TigerAug-Jun

PeacockMay-Jul

Privet Hawk-mothJul-Sep

Buff ErmineJul-Oct

Jersey TigerSep-May

CinnabarJul-Sep

Lobster MothJun-Sep

DrinkerAug-Jun

Narrow-bordered Five-spot BurnetJul-Jun

Lime Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Puss MothJul-Sep

CommaMay-Aug

Fox MothJun-Apr

Yellow-tailAug-Jun

Pebble ProminentJun-Sep

Oak EggarJul-Jun

Emperor MothMay-Aug

Beautiful Yellow UnderwingApr-Oct

Knot GrassJun-Oct

Buff-tipJul-Oct

Alder MothJun-Aug

MillerJul-Oct

Elephant Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Pale TussockJun-Oct

Small TortoiseshellMay-Aug

Grey DaggerJul-Nov

Small WhiteMay-Nov

Large WhiteMay-Dec

Eyed Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Poplar KittenJun-Sep

MulleinMay-Jul

SycamoreJul-Sep

Broom MothJun-Sep

Scarlet TigerAug-May

Poplar Hawk-mothJun-Sep

MagpieAug-Jun

Red AdmiralJun-Nov

Garden TigerAug-Jun

PeacockMay-Jul

Privet Hawk-mothJul-Sep

Buff ErmineJul-Oct

Jersey TigerSep-May

CinnabarJul-Sep

Lobster MothJun-Sep

DrinkerAug-Jun

Narrow-bordered Five-spot BurnetJul-Jun

Lime Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Puss MothJul-Sep

CommaMay-Aug

Fox MothJun-Apr

Yellow-tailAug-Jun

Pebble ProminentJun-Sep

Oak EggarJul-Jun

Emperor MothMay-Aug

Beautiful Yellow UnderwingApr-Oct

Knot GrassJun-Oct

Buff-tipJul-Oct

Alder MothJun-Aug

MillerJul-Oct

Elephant Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Pale TussockJun-Oct

Small TortoiseshellMay-Aug

Grey DaggerJul-Nov

Small WhiteMay-Nov

Large WhiteMay-Dec

Eyed Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Poplar KittenJun-Sep

MulleinMay-Jul

SycamoreJul-Sep

Broom MothJun-Sep

Scarlet TigerAug-May

Poplar Hawk-mothJun-Sep

MagpieAug-Jun

Red AdmiralJun-Nov

Garden TigerAug-Jun

PeacockMay-Jul

Privet Hawk-mothJul-Sep

Buff ErmineJul-Oct

Jersey TigerSep-May

CinnabarJul-Sep

Lobster MothJun-Sep

DrinkerAug-Jun

Narrow-bordered Five-spot BurnetJul-Jun

Lime Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Puss MothJul-Sep

CommaMay-Aug

Fox MothJun-Apr

Yellow-tailAug-Jun

Pebble ProminentJun-Sep

Oak EggarJul-Jun

Emperor MothMay-Aug

Beautiful Yellow UnderwingApr-Oct

Knot GrassJun-Oct

Buff-tipJul-Oct

Alder MothJun-Aug

MillerJul-Oct

Elephant Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Pale TussockJun-Oct

Small TortoiseshellMay-Aug

Grey DaggerJul-Nov

Small WhiteMay-Nov

Large WhiteMay-Dec

Eyed Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Poplar KittenJun-Sep

MulleinMay-Jul

SycamoreJul-Sep

Broom MothJun-Sep

Scarlet TigerAug-May

Poplar Hawk-mothJun-Sep

MagpieAug-Jun

Red AdmiralJun-Nov

Garden TigerAug-Jun

PeacockMay-Jul

Privet Hawk-mothJul-Sep

Buff ErmineJul-Oct

Jersey TigerSep-May

CinnabarJul-Sep

Lobster MothJun-Sep

DrinkerAug-Jun

Narrow-bordered Five-spot BurnetJul-Jun

Lime Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Puss MothJul-Sep

CommaMay-Aug

Fox MothJun-Apr

Yellow-tailAug-Jun

Pebble ProminentJun-Sep

Oak EggarJul-Jun

Emperor MothMay-Aug

Beautiful Yellow UnderwingApr-Oct

Knot GrassJun-Oct

Buff-tipJul-Oct

Alder MothJun-Aug

MillerJul-Oct

Elephant Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Pale TussockJun-Oct

Small TortoiseshellMay-Aug

Grey DaggerJul-Nov

Small WhiteMay-Nov

Large WhiteMay-Dec

Eyed Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Poplar KittenJun-Sep

MulleinMay-Jul

SycamoreJul-Sep

Broom MothJun-Sep

Scarlet TigerAug-May

Poplar Hawk-mothJun-Sep

MagpieAug-Jun

Red AdmiralJun-Nov

Garden TigerAug-Jun

PeacockMay-Jul

Privet Hawk-mothJul-Sep

Buff ErmineJul-Oct

Jersey TigerSep-May

CinnabarJul-Sep

Lobster MothJun-Sep

DrinkerAug-Jun

Narrow-bordered Five-spot BurnetJul-Jun

Lime Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Puss MothJul-Sep

CommaMay-Aug

Fox MothJun-Apr

Yellow-tailAug-Jun

Pebble ProminentJun-Sep

Oak EggarJul-Jun

Emperor MothMay-Aug

Beautiful Yellow UnderwingApr-Oct

Knot GrassJun-Oct

Buff-tipJul-Oct

Alder MothJun-Aug

MillerJul-Oct

Elephant Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Pale TussockJun-Oct

Small TortoiseshellMay-Aug

Grey DaggerJul-Nov

Small WhiteMay-Nov

Large WhiteMay-Dec

Eyed Hawk-mothJun-Sep

Poplar KittenJun-Sep

MulleinMay-Jul

SycamoreJul-Sep

Broom MothJun-Sep

Scarlet TigerAug-May

caterpillarsa brief guideAlthough many caterpillars are plain green andgo unnoticed, others have amazing colours,beautiful markings or weird shapes.

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Further informationYou can find more information about mothsand caterpillars on the Moths Count websiteat www.mothscount.org, which also haslinks to other web sources. Useful bookson caterpillars include:

The Colour Identification Guideto Caterpillars of the British IslesPorter, J. 1997 (Viking)

Field Guide to the Caterpillarsof Britain and EuropeCarter, D. & Hargreaves, B. 2001 (Collins)

British Moths & Butterflies:a photographic guideManley, C. 2008 (A&C Black)

Butterfly Conservation is working to savebutterflies, moths and their habitats.Why not become a member?More information atwww.butterfly-conservation.org

Moths Count is a partnership of manyorganisations, individuals and businesses, ledby Butterfly Conservation. Principal fundersinclude the Heritage Lottery Fund, ButterflyConservation, British Entomological and NaturalHistory Society, City Bridge Trust, CountrysideCouncil for Wales, Environment Agency,Natural England, Northern Ireland EnvironmentAgency, Royal Entomological Society, RSPBand Scottish Natural Heritage. Many otherorganisations are involved, providing supportand helping to host events. Full details at:

www.mothscount.orgManor Yard East LulworthWareham Dorset BH20 5QPPhone 01929 406009nmrs@butterfly-conservation.org

Text by Susan Anders. Photographs by John Bebbington, Rob Edmunds,Peter Eeles, Dave Green, Les Hill, Dan Hoare, RoyLeverton, Chris Manley, Mark Parsons, Neil Sherman,Keith Tailby, Robert Thompson and Martin Warren.

Butterfly ConservationCompany limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468)Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QPCharity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)Printed on 100% recycled stock including 75% post-consumer waste.

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Garden plants for caterpillarsA garden with a greater variety of plantsis likely to be home to more types ofcaterpillar. The widest range is found onnative trees, especially willow, birch andoak, if you have room. A mixed hedge ofhawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, barberry,beech, spindle and privet will supportmany species, particularly if not trimmedtoo often. Fruit trees and bushes are alsogood, especially apple, plum and currant.If you have a wall or fence to cover, thebest climbers are roses, honeysuckle(Lonicera), clematis, hop and ivy.

One of the best (and easiest!) things youcan do is leave an area wild with a mix ofnative grasses allowed to grow long andcommon ‘weeds’, particularly docks,bramble, plantains, dandelions, nettles,bedstraws and bird’s-foot-trefoils. It isvery beneficial to limit management of thewhole garden: restricting pesticide use,tolerating a few weeds and leaving someold vegetation to provide places for thecaterpillars to hide, pupate or overwinter.

A few native plants which are used bycaterpillars are attractive enough for bedsand borders, including foxglove, primroseand thyme. Some garden plants may suitsome caterpillars, but chances may behigher with plants which are related tolocal native or naturalised species. Trycultivated forms of mulleins (Verbascum),saxifrages (Saxifraga), dead-nettles(Lamium), yarrows (Achillea), knapweeds(Centaurea) and valerians (Centranthus).The flowers of the last three are alsogood sources of nectar for adult mothsand butterflies.

Rearing caterpillarsOne way to identify a difficult caterpillar isto rear it to the adult stage, which may beeasier to recognise. If you want to try this,you will need to note what kind of plantthe caterpillar was on and provide thesame type of leaves for it to eat.

Caterpillars can be reared in a ventilatedplastic container large enough for a fewstems of the food-plant. Place it out ofdirect sunlight to avoid overheating. Keepthe leaves fresh by putting the stems in alittle water and replace them every day. Apiece of paper towel in the base will helpto absorb condensation. Hygiene is vital,so all droppings must be removed daily,along with old leaves and other debris.

Some caterpillars will pupate fastened toa plant stem, but you should also providesome soil or leaf litter for them to burythemselves for pupation.

Pupae are best kept somewhere that issheltered and frost-free but unheated,such as a garage or shed. It can bedifficult to achieve the required humidityand temperature, but if you are lucky theadult will eventually emerge. The timingfor this will vary with the species, from afew weeks to a year.

Some species use silk to fasten leavestogether and hide inside to eat. Othersspin a large silk web which protects awhole brood of caterpillars.

Some caterpillars make less effort tohide themselves as they have developedother means of discouraging predators,such as a bitter taste or unpleasant hairsor bristles to irritate the throat. (As somecan irritate human skin or lungs, it iswiser not to handle any hairy caterpillar.)Many such caterpillars are conspicuousas they use bright colours to warn thatthey are distasteful.

A few large moth species have evolvedcaterpillars with eye-like markings, spikesthat resemble stings, or weird postures,all designed to scare off predatorsalthough they are actually harmless.

The time taken for caterpillars to reach fullsize varies with the species, from a fewweeks to a few years. When fully grown acaterpillar turns into a pupa, with a toughouter case inside which the adult moth orbutterfly forms and from which it willemerge. Many caterpillars burrow intosoil to pupate, others fasten themselvesto a plant. Some spin a silk cocoon andpupate inside it for extra protection.

In many cases the pupa is the stage thatoverwinters, although more species passthe winter as caterpillars, while someoverwinter as adults and a few as eggs.

About caterpillarsIf you find a caterpillar it is more likely tobe a moth than a butterfly, as there areover 2,500 types of moth in Britain butfewer than 70 butterflies. A great manycaterpillars are hard to identify as they areplain green or brown. This leaflet showssome moth caterpillars (and a fewbutterflies) that are relatively widespreador noticeable and have features thatmake them easier to recognise. Even so,they can be confused with some otherspecies (for example there are severaltypes of Burnet which look similar, and aBuff Ermine caterpillar looks very like aWhite Ermine). More images can be seenin the resources listed at the end of theleaflet or at www.mothscount.org

Female moths and butterflies lay eggsfrom which caterpillars hatch. Most eggsare laid on a suitable plant, often singly orsometimes in a batch. Some caterpillarscan eat a wide range of plants but mostare restricted to certain types, so theplant it is found on can be a very usefulclue to a caterpillar’s identity. Usually it isthe leaves that are eaten, but there arecaterpillars which eat the flowers, fruits,roots or stems of plants. The caterpillarsof many small moths burrow inside theleaves, where their tunnels form visible‘leaf mines’, even though the tinycaterpillars are hard to see.

A caterpillar’s purpose in life is to eat andgrow, as this is the only stage in the life-cycle where growth is possible. However,a caterpillar’s skin cannot stretch to allowgradual growth, but instead must be splitand moulted so that the caterpillar canexpand in stages called ‘instars’.

As well as increasing in size, each instarmay also change in colour and otherfeatures, which complicates identification.

Caterpillars are also important food for arange of other animals, especially birds.Consequently they have evolved ways ofavoiding predators. One very commonmethod is camouflage to blend into theirbackground, which is why so manycaterpillars are green or brown. Somehave elaborate markings to imitate theirfood-plants more closely.

Others have evolved body shapes thatresemble their background. A large familyof moths have caterpillars which look liketwigs. They are called ‘geometrids’ (fromthe Greek for ‘ground’ and ‘measure’)after their looping walk. The ScallopedHazel and Swallow-tailed Moth areshown, but many others look similar.

Some caterpillars have bold patterns orodd shapes to disguise their outlines. Afew attach bits of leaf to their bodies toimprove their camouflage. Others, suchas the group called bagworms, constructcomplete casings which they live insideand carry around with them.

Leaf mine (Stigmella lapponica)

Swallow-tailed MothAug-Jun

Comma pupa

Scalloped HazelJun-Sep

Small Eggar webApr-Jul

ImagesThe caterpillars illustrated arenot to scale. The months indicatethe period when the species occursin the caterpillar stage. Note thatsome species continue ascaterpillars through the winter.