Some Mystery Buddhist Caterpillars

I photographed several of the caterpillars I came across whilst biodiversity surveying the Buddhist chateau estate La Gendronnière on Tuesday. A couple of them were easy to identify, but a couple come under the heading of 'I feel I should know what these are, but I don't'. Luckily I'm not in charge of surveying Lepidoptera at La Gendronnière, just flies. Also luckily, Jeroen Voogd, a Dutch entomologist, has come to my rescue on Facebook and identified the ones I didn't know. Here are the photos, for all you caterpillar appreciators out there.

Mullein moth Curcullia verbasci (Fr. La Brèche) on its food plant Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus (Fr. Molène bouillon-blanc). This one I knew without having to look it up. It is distinctive and of course, the host plant helps.

Twin-spotted Quaker Anorthoa munda (Fr. l'Orthosie picotée) on Milk Thistle Silybum marianum (Fr. Chardon marie). A widespread species, one of the Noctuid family of moths which I would never have been able to identify without Jeroen's help.

Blossom Underwing moth Orthosia miniosa (Fr. l'Orthosie rougeoyante) mooching about on bramble but heading for the oak seedling which is the food plant. Thanks again to Jeroen for identifying another nightmare Noctuid.

Lackey moth Malacosoma neustria (Fr. Livrée des arbres), which is so distinctive I identified it easily after looking in the field guide.

Another Blossom Underwing moth Orthosia miniosa (Fr. l'Orthosie rougeoyante) lurking about in a sneaky random way on a plant it doesn't eat, Mouse-eared Hawkweed Pilosella officinarum.

************************************************

For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

 

****************************************

 

UPDATE -- RESPONSES TO COMMENTS

chm -- one of the great miracles and mysteries of nature that's for sure.

Colin and Elizabeth -- the Lackey especially is lovely, but they all have wonderful markings.