If you ever see great clumps of webbing on nettles in the UK in July, they are likely to be the nests of these little guys, the caterpillar of the peacock butterfly. The first time I saw them emerging, almost like mini erupting volcanoes, was 2019. An incredible memory.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThey send little shivers down my spine. I had no idea that the peacock looked like this as a caterpillar.
These are one of the earlier instar caterpillars. They get darker each time they shed their skin the grow. Before the pupate they are black with tiny white speckles all over and with little yellowish coloured legs ?
Honestly, I am afraid of that little thing. It will give me goosebumps.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI’m more afraid of the nettle leaves that they’re eating. They sting way more than the wee caterpillars ?
Hehehehe. I am so sorry but I have a phobia of crawling animals like snakes and that little one.
They look amazing, Carrie, and I googled to see the peacock butterfly – beautiful! At first sight I thought they were like our (Australian) spitfire caterpillars but, thankfully not. The spitfires can cause an awful rash and are quite creepy 🙁
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHi Sandra and thanks for commenting. Unfortunately most of the hairy caterpillars can cause some degree of skin irritation. It’s their defence mechanism to protect them against predators. Some, unfortunately do cause a much stronger reaction than others. I had an irritable rash on the back of my hands, a couple of years ago, which I think was from the hairs of the yellow tail moth caterpillar. They are such fascinating creatures.