Mullein moth caterpillars

 

These voracious caterpillars are having a good go at one of three mulleins(Verbascum) that had self sown in my garden.  Their colouring is very distinctive and dramatic, I assume to put off predators.  I've looked up the adult moth and apparently they look like a piece of bark.  What a contrast!  

Comments

  1. Chris Shaw6 June 2026 at 02:39

    Hi Lyn, I've just spent 1/2 an hour trying to post a comment. (I'll explain tomorrow)
    Love the photo. Turns out the Mullein Moth caterpillars like figwort as well. The one I photographed for identification was on figwort in my front garden. After chewing away the top part of the plant it disappeared. Gone somewhere to pupate possibly. It may appear in 5 years time as a boring brown moth.

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