Pink punk

When I was young there were many punks who would be envious of a hairdo like this!

This is the caterpillar of the pale tussock moth. Normally the hairy caterpillars are green and yellow, have a black band around each body segment, and a tuft of red-brown hair at the tail end. This one is clearly blushing, with a very pretty pink hue. The brightly coloured hairs protect them from birds, and other predators and are also potentially irritant.

The caterpillars feed on a varity of trees, including willow, but are also known to eat hops. They were known as 'hop dogs' by hop pickers who frequently found them among the crops. They're less likely to be found in hop fields these days due to the use of pesticides.