Goat moth caterpillar.

[Mark Bolam]

On a job today I spotted some Ganoderma brackets on a medium sized oak so had a prod about in the cavity between the buttresses.

 

A few minutes later I spotted this crawling across the lawn about 10’ from the tree.

Never seen anything like it!

 

 

[5thelement]

What’s it taste like?

[5thelement]

I have a Morello Cherry tree in my garden, the base is riddled with holes from Goat Moth infestation, it has oozing goo and smells a bit funky, never seen the larvae though. 

[AHPP]

It might have been one of those I found fifteen years ago on a golf range. Massive thing. Size of a small bird. Made a very particular noise. Had never seen anything like it before. I killed it without hesitation. New and different things shouldn't be tolerated.

Edited 4 hours ago by AHPP

[sime42]

I'm enjoying the way it seems to move by concertinaring itself. 

[Mark Bolam]

27 minutes ago, 5thelement said:

I have a Morello Cherry tree in my garden, the base is riddled with holes from Goat Moth infestation, it has oozing goo and smells a bit funky, never seen the larvae though. 

 

Apparently the larvae can live in the tree for 5 years.

I was pretty lucky to see one on it’s journey to find somewhere to pupate, although I probably forced it’s hand with my rummaging.

 

The adult moths don’t eat apparently.

[Mark Bolam]

34 minutes ago, 5thelement said:

What’s it taste like?

 

I’m waiting for Alex to send me a recipe involving garlic and pheasant stock.

[AHPP]

The surrogate Gaul is referring to the Romans if wikipedia is to be believed.

[Mark Bolam]

We pugged it up in a wild corner of the garden to give it the best chance.

 

They are getting quite rare apparently.

 

Not sure why they emerge from a safe spot and embark on a dangerous journey to find somewhere else to pupate.

[AHPP]

7 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

 

Not sure why they emerge from a safe spot and embark on a dangerous journey to find somewhere else to pupate.

 

@Johnsond