Caterpillars
The list of caterpillar food plants listed below are just a guide, some of them will eat other plants.
Some young caterpillars will eat each other, especially the hawk moths.
All species shown below are currently in our keeping.
Cucullia verbasci
Wingspan 45 - 50mm
Caterpillars feed on Verbascum & Buddleia
Flight Period: April - May
They overwinter as pupae, sometimes for 2 years.
Deilephila elpenor - Elephant Hawk Moth
Wingspan: 6 - 7cm
Caterpillars feed on Fushia & Rosebay Willowherb
Macroglossum stellatarum - Humming-bird Hawk Moth
Wingspan 50 - 60mm
Caterpillars feed on Bedstraws (Gallium verum & Gallium album)
Orgyia antiqua - Rusty Tussock (aka vaporer moth)
Wingspan: 25 - 30mm
Caterpillars feed on a number of plants & shrubs including fruit trees, rose, bramble, birch, blackthorn & hawthorn.
They overwinter as caterpillars.
Flight Period: July - September.
* The female moths of this species are wingless & spend their short lives waiting on the cocoon for a male so she can lay her eggs *
Eggs Hatched April
Saturnia pavonia - Emperor Moth
Wingspan 4 - 6cm
Caterpillars feed on Brambles, Hawthorn, Heathers & Birch.
Flight Period: April - May.
They overwinter as Pupae.
Eggs Ready Soon