Role play

Three year old granddaughter spotted this Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar on the path and it was an opportunity to talk about disguise.
It's my favourite caterpillar and not uncommonly seen at this time of the year when it leaves its food plant (willowherb, bedstraw, Fuschia) and strikes out to find a place to pupate.

When threatened the area behind the caterpillar's head swells up and reveals two fake 'eyes', and at the same time it retracts its head creating the impression of an angry snake. This threatening appearance is accompanied by jerky twitching movements, the whole performance being  (with luck) enough to discombobulate a curious human, let alone a hungry bird.

In the extra you can see the way in which the small actual head curls under and somewhat resembles an elephant's trunk, hence the name. 

Please don't be alarmed if you see this caterpillar and if you pick it up to admire it don't drop it when it twitches. The  adult moth is very beautiful and completely harmless.