Privet Hawkmoth larva (Sphinx ligustri).
My good friend Clare yesterday found this beautiful half grown Privet Hawk-moth caterpillar in her garden feeding on Forsythia.
For such a large caterpillar they are so rarely found and is I believe only the 3rd one that I have seen, despite searching over the years.
Hopefully I will get a few more shots of this lovely creature as it grows up.
The only one I found was a couple of years ago when I came across a fully grown one whilst gardening. That one is in the comments column below.
Privet Hawkmoth larva (Sphinx ligustri).
My good friend Clare yesterday found this beautiful half grown Privet Hawk-moth caterpillar in her garden feeding on Forsythia.
For such a large caterpillar they are so rarely found and is I believe only the 3rd one that I have seen, despite searching over the years.
Hopefully I will get a few more shots of this lovely creature as it grows up.
The only one I found was a couple of years ago when I came across a fully grown one whilst gardening. That one is in the comments column below.