The mullein moth, Cucullia verbasci, caterpillar’s on food plant Verbascum giganteum – Great Mullein. Taken with a smartphone.
Mullein Caterpillar.
Continued Reflections from my world.
Nature records, places visited and things seen.
The mullein moth, Cucullia verbasci, caterpillar’s on food plant Verbascum giganteum – Great Mullein. Taken with a smartphone.
Continued Reflections from my world. 
Fascinating colors and they are huge! My kids and I are doing a caterpillar to butterfly project and I’m surprised by their size. I don’t remember the caterpillars from a few years back to be this big.
Must be very nutritious concentrated food in their cups.
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I saw your kid’s butterfly project post great project for them. 👍 These have great colours but the moth is a very dull brown.
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Thank you! The caterpillars are in the pupa state now, but my kids are grossed out by it. This wasn’t the case when they were younger.
We once dissected an owl pellet and the kid’s babysitter almost barfed. Yep, I ended up doing the whole experiment telling myself never to start an experiment without knowing more about it.
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Wow amazing photos. They are so sharp for a phone! I use my Huawei P20 Pro for my photos and sometimes can be right footery!
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Thanks – I have found the phone has saved the day for me a few times when I have spotted something and have no camera. (Basic Samsung A10)
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You would expect such a colourful caterpillar to become quite a dramatic looking moth..
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Yes I was surprised when I looked up the moth how brown it was.
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Great close-ups Andy. I thought it was a Monarch caterpillar at first glance. A friend and I bought a set-up of a mikweed plant, about 10 caterpillars and mosquito netting over top. We hoped to watch, document with photos, release and more photos then as the caterpillars grew, went to pupas … we ran out of food and turned them over to a person who raises caterpillars to Monarchs, then releases them. No competing with the experts. 🙂
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Interesting project
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I even bought a butterfly net – I had high hopes. 🙂
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