A new ‘friend’ moved in!
By Fleur
@Fleura (30404)
United Kingdom
November 4, 2021 1:54pm CST
I have a lot of house plants and here on my desk is a magenta-flowered pelargonium. For a few days I have noticed there seemed to be specks falling off it onto the table, but didn’t pay too much attention, until today I suddenly realised that some of the ‘specks’ were what looked like caterpillar ‘frass’ (biological name for caterpillar poo). And then I realised that the plant seemed to be missing quite a lot of its leaves!
I looked at the plant, the compost, I picked up the pot and looked underneath, but I couldn’t see anything. Then I was telling my partner that it looked as though a caterpillar (and quite a big one, judging by the frass!) was munching my plant and he said ‘Like that one?’ and pointed to a big (about an inch and a half long) bright green caterpillar curled up on a leaf. How did I not see that?
After a bit of online investigation I think it is the caterpillar of an Angle Shades moth.
When Little One got home I showed it to her and then we spotted a second, smaller one in a more browny sort of colour. Apparently these caterpillars take on the colour of whatever they have eaten. I should try and encourage it to eat some of the flower petals!
I’m going to keep them here and watch them transform. It seems they eat a wide range of plants so it shouldn’t be too hard to keep them happy.
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2021.
An unmistakeable and distinctive moth with pinkish-brown markings. The wings are folded along the body at rest which gives the impression of a withered autumn leaf. The adults are attracted to light and feed on flowers of Common Reed and other grasses. The
11 people like this
11 responses
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
4 Nov 21
The caterpillar's here killed my plants
2 people like this
@Fleura (30404)
• United Kingdom
5 Nov 21
@ardeliaputri2 I have seen those too, they roll the leaves up and hide inside.
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
10 Nov 21
Better to find it there than in one's salad. I've found some hitchhikers on fresh veggies before. Unfortunately, some of them have been found after the veggies have been washed and the salad made. My husband tends to start looking as green as the caterpillars when he makes that discovery. 
Fortunately, he's a good guy and scoops the little critter up and takes it outside. Granted it probably then ends up being some bird's dinner, so that is probably not such a good outcome either.
Fortunately, he's a good guy and scoops the little critter up and takes it outside. Granted it probably then ends up being some bird's dinner, so that is probably not such a good outcome either.1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
4 Nov 21
I found two big slugs in the kitchen floor this morning... I guess they came inside when we brought in the houseplants. Yucky! (I "found" the first one by stepping on it. 
)
)1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
5 Nov 21
@Fleura I don't like to put on shoes when they aren't needed. I'd just have to slip them back off when I put my feet up on the sofa or my bed.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30404)
• United Kingdom
5 Nov 21
@DaddyEvil That doesn't seem that difficult!
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
4 Nov 21
House plants are the best decors ever. I have plants even in my bathroom.
I've had my share of caterpillars in my kitchen a decade ago when my daughter was working on her collegiate thesis. Yes, it was a joy to watch the tiny cocoons turn into caterpillars and subsist on the trifoliate cleome I arranged as their habitat.
1 person likes this
@Scrapper88 (5983)
• United States
4 Nov 21
With winter coming on; do you think they will live in cold weather. I would like to see it if they do.
1 person likes this
