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Caterpillar on Heather ( first macro of 2008)

Discussion

14 replies
Posted by Guy Rogers on March 31, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Caterpillar on Heather ( first macro of 2008)
Canon 40D, Sigma 180mm, F16, 1/45 -1/2, iso 100, Tripod Cable release.

Sorry for the bad title but I need ID for this one. I have some good caterpillar books but they are only illustration only and I can't match this one. Thanks for any help.

This was a nice find today. I went to top up my feeding station, and found this little fellow in the Heather on the way there. :wavey:
Posted by David Kjaer on March 31, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Hi Guy

Love the detail, soft light and BG!

David :toast:
Posted by Paul Inglis on March 31, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Hi Guy,

Superb capture! Love everything except the fact the top of the plant is cropped off! Only a tiny nit thought!
:toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Edwin kats on March 31, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Hello Guy,

very nice shot. Agree with paul on this one.
It's a Ground Lackey (Madacosoma castrensis) by the way.

Cheers,

Edwin Kats
Posted by Andy Astbury on March 31, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Stunner Guy - really nice subject to see - grand times ahead :toast: :toast:
Posted by Rene de Heer on March 31, 2008 at 2:35 PM
No idea what caterpillar it is but very nice image!
Rene de Heer
Posted by A.R.D on March 31, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Yes. Very nice.

Perhaps you could 're-model' the top of the plant stem in Photoshop - unless you have the complete thing in an uncropped image?

Regards
Posted by Malcolm Muir on March 31, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Hi Guy

Pretty sure that this is an early instar Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa quercus) - despite its name it is commonly associated with heather moorland. This one has just hibernated as a young caterpillar and will soon change into a much bigger, even hairier form before pupating. The adult males are the big orangy brown jobs that can be seen flying fast and low over heather during the day in July.

Malcolm
Posted by Barrie Courtenay on March 31, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Those sigma macro's certainly do the buisness.....excellent

:toast:
Posted by Andy Shepherd on March 31, 2008 at 5:50 PM


Lovely shot Guy , excellent BG , roll on summer :toast: :toast:

Andy... :smile:
Posted by Magnus Hird on March 31, 2008 at 5:50 PM
Lovely stuff, wonder how it would look backlit? :smile:
Posted by PhilH on April 1, 2008 at 3:07 AM
Great stuff... with Malcolm its an Oak Eggar possibly 2nd Instar.

:toast: :wavey: :toast:
Posted by Andrew Stagg on April 1, 2008 at 8:35 AM
Cracking shot, I agree on the Oak Eggar, Ground Lackey are pretty rare (restricted to south and east coasts in the UK). Also Ground Lackey caterpillars have quite a lot of blue on them.

Andrew
Posted by Graeme Lee on April 1, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Very very nice Guy :toast:
Posted by David Taylor on April 1, 2008 at 5:28 PM
Agree about the crop, but a nice shot neverthless. Looks a bit like a ?

:toast: :toast: