Wild Wednesday – Mullein moth caterpillar
The Mullein moth, Latin name, Cucullia verbasci, flies between May and June, feeding on flowers, being attracted to light and is found in various habitats including gardens and waste ground.
It has a forewing length of up to 24mm, is subtly marked in light and dark shades of brown, and can be easily overlooked when settled on a brown plant stem.
The female lays batches of eggs on species of Verbascum and cultivated Buddleia plants, which hatch within ten days. The caterpillars feed greedily on the host plant, day and night, often causing severe damage.
The caterpillars, with their yellow, black and white markings on pale bluey grey/whitish body, are one of the most distinctive caterpillars and are well distributed throughout much of the southern half of England. When fully grown they are almost 50mm in length.
They pupate just beneath the surface in the soil inside a very tough cocoon, but the moth may not emerge for several years.
Read more here: Mullein | The Wildlife Trusts
Image credited to Glen Harrison