Melanchra persicariae - the caterpiller of the Dot Moth.

[Bilbo_baggin]

A rather large caterpillar here, it was perhaps an inch and a half long (that's 1½ in old numbers)...

After a little bit of research I have identified it as the caterpillar of a Dot moth, Latin name as in the title, Melanchra persicariae.

This one was originally munching on a penstemon leaf, but for the compositional aid, I used a wisteria to allow it to take up a position which allowed a clearer view.

The caterpillar is more interesting than the moth in truth, the moth being a rather boring black colour with a dot on each wing...

Sigma 105 lens, 3 images stacked and finished in CombineZP.


Exif:

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 550D
Lens: 105mm
Image Date: 2010-09-16 22:50:41 +0000
Focal Length: 105mm
Aperture: f/11.0
Exposure Time: 0.0080 s (1/125)
ISO equiv: 100
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: Yes (Manual)
Color Space: sRGB
Photographer: Paul Iddon
Copyright: www.pauliddon.co.uk






Paul.

[Wompastompa]

looks like a big bogey

[cybollox]

scary munching fat 2 headed monster, great shot Paul, hope you disposed of it before it ate all your garden mate.

[peterc4]

got to agree with mr bollox there quite scary close up, and is a fat fooker courtesy of your plants