Strawberry Fruit Gums

He was happily chewing away on a bramble as I snipped away with my secateurs, taking away a few choice leaves that obscured the view!

This is the caterpillar of the Knot Grass moth Aronicta rumicis which flies around from May to July and he is a second brood. The moths have wingspans of about 4cms and are mottled with shades of grey (no I'm not going to go there!) resting usually on tree bark or fence posts to blend in - well disguised. Bats are a major predator and so they need to detect their high pitched sound with their tympana. Hatched from an egg he munches through hawthorn, mint and brambles then will pupate in the soil or under a stone over the winter!

I love his colouring and you have just got to see strawberry fruit gums in there!!