Bring Your Own Caterpillar, Pt. 4 - _TNY_5253

Me and the family were spending two weeks of August in 2023 at my mother-in-law's place outside Härnösand, Sweden - about 500 km north of were we live.

 

When driving there, with like 10 km left, I had to make a bathroom break.

 

With no toilets around on the side of the road, I jumped down into the ditch to disappear out of sight. Down there I noticed this one climbing on a fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) so when I was done I broke of the top of the flower and went inside the car and brought it with me (no, I don't bring my camera with me on toilet breaks!).

 

After arriving at the house I located another fireweed and had this one climb over where it immediately began munching on one of the leaves.

 

This caterpillar is the fourth and second-to-last instar of the bedstraw hawkmoth (Hyles gallii) and I would *really* like to spot the adult moth later.

 

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53103261053/

 

Part 2 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53154970199/

 

Part 3 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53335835726/

Done