Pale Tussock Moth Caterpillar

This afternoon I went for a walk around Colemere with a friend. It was a lovely sunny day with a biting wind, it's certainly feeling like autumn.

As we walked I saw this big hairy caterpillar on the path. I was afraid of it being trodden on so got a leaf underneath it and put it gently amongst the leaves where it curled up showing it's stripes and stayed absolutely still. Obviously a defence strategy.

When I got home I did some researched and found it to be a Pale Tussock Moth caterpillar. Apparently it's poisonous to birds and if it's hairs are touched it causes a nasty rash and possible allergic reaction - I was glad that I'd used a leaf to move it! It takes  four months to grow to full size then overwinters in leaf litter as a pupa so luckily I'd put it in the right spot too.

The things that we learn due to Blip!