These tiny green caterpillars have virtually stripped the leaves from the gooseberry bush :-( Unfortunately I haven't been able to identify them. Any ideas?
This seals the deal... since I have to deal with the chore of dog walking (with a sore foot) for a couple more weeks, I'm going to turn those walks into caterpillar hunts! :) I love to paint them and always try to take photos of them when I find them. Thanks for the inspiration!
I am not very fond of worms so I can't help you identify it lol. I hate when they start eating my plants arghh.. Thanks for the visit John! Love your thistledown photo too
Its definetly gooseberry sawfly. The little blighters strip my gooseberry bush every year! My neighbour never gets them though. His nearby rhubarb or buddleia must be masking it.
I'm voting for sawfly with many of the other comments here! Here they are devouring my Mugo Pine...not as pretty a photo as yours, but kind of intense for the sheer quantity! http://willoaksstudio.blogspot.com/2009/05/pine-sawfly-larvae-swallow-mugo-pine.html
A bit late in the day, but I was trying to find info to prevent the same little critter wiping out my gooseberry this coming summer. I found Vicky's comment about rhubarb particularly inspiring. I have decided to put my container gooseberries next to the rhubarb patch as a little tester. If this proves successful I'll post a follow-up... If I remember.
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15 comments:
Probably a gooseberry sawfly.
oooo I love the way you captured it hanging that way. it's really gorgeous. hope you find out what it will be soon.
I can't help you identify it. It just makes me wonder how such a small creature could eat up such a big portion of the leaf.
Great shot, almost surreal.
By the way, thanks for visiting my blog and for taking time to leave a comment. Happy blogging!
Wonderful photographs. Thanks for posting. Love armchair travel so especially appreciated!
I haven't a clue, I've never seen them before. They are quite interesting though.
This seals the deal... since I have to deal with the chore of dog walking (with a sore foot) for a couple more weeks, I'm going to turn those walks into caterpillar hunts! :) I love to paint them and always try to take photos of them when I find them. Thanks for the inspiration!
Looks like some kind of looper, but I have no clue which one. The photo is very artistic... looks so transparent
I think I agree that it might be some kind of sawfly larvae. I checked on Google Images and they look like yours.
I am not very fond of worms so I can't help you identify it lol. I hate when they start eating my plants arghh.. Thanks for the visit John! Love your thistledown photo too
I have no idea but this is a fantastic shot.
Its definetly gooseberry sawfly. The little blighters strip my gooseberry bush every year! My neighbour never gets them though. His nearby rhubarb or buddleia must be masking it.
I'm voting for sawfly with many of the other comments here! Here they are devouring my Mugo Pine...not as pretty a photo as yours, but kind of intense for the sheer quantity! http://willoaksstudio.blogspot.com/2009/05/pine-sawfly-larvae-swallow-mugo-pine.html
Thanks to everyone who responded. I never considered it might be the larvae of a sawfly.
They're currently munching through my currant bushes! :-(
A bit late in the day, but I was trying to find info to prevent the same little critter wiping out my gooseberry this coming summer. I found Vicky's comment about rhubarb particularly inspiring. I have decided to put my container gooseberries next to the rhubarb patch as a little tester. If this proves successful I'll post a follow-up... If I remember.
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I love to read your comments. If you're familiar with any of the places, plants or creatures or have anything else to add, please feel free to leave a comment below. Please try the alternative comment form if you're having trouble commenting.