|
Unknown creepy crawlie
Hi all
I went out to the patio at the bottom of the garden a couple of hours ago to see something about 3 or 4 inches long, about half an inch in diameter, dark brown in colour, with a segmented body, heading for the soil. I've never seen one before (and don't want to again) so has anyone any idea what it could be please? I've 'googled' for slow worms and it isn't one of those. Regards, Aileen |
Unknown creepy crawlie
The message
from "Aileen Howard" contains these words: Hi all I went out to the patio at the bottom of the garden a couple of hours ago to see something about 3 or 4 inches long, about half an inch in diameter, dark brown in colour, with a segmented body, heading for the soil. I've never seen one before (and don't want to again) so has anyone any idea what it could be please? I've 'googled' for slow worms and it isn't one of those. Certainly not a slow-worm. Any more dscription? Did it have legs? How fast did it move? Did it seem to have a separate head? By segmented, do you mean worm-like or insect-like? (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) / \ \ / \(")/ \___(_)___/ /(_)\ / (_) \ / (_) \ (_) (_) (_) / \ -- Rusty http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm horrid·squeak snailything zetnet·co·uk excange d.p. with p to reply. |
Unknown creepy crawlie
In article ,
Aileen Howard wrote: I went out to the patio at the bottom of the garden a couple of hours ago to see something about 3 or 4 inches long, about half an inch in diameter, dark brown in colour, with a segmented body, heading for the soil. I've never seen one before (and don't want to again) so has anyone any idea what it could be please? I've 'googled' for slow worms and it isn't one of those. With legs? If so, a millipede. While they can damage seedlings etc., they don't occur in large numbers and are best regarded as interesting and to be ignored. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Unknown creepy crawlie
$ inch long Millipede in UK?
I would have thought that it was a caterpillar of one of the Hawk moths, -- David Hill Abacus nurseries www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk |
Unknown creepy crawlie
The message
from "David Hill" contains these words: $ inch long Millipede in UK? I would have thought that it was a caterpillar of one of the Hawk moths, You can get all sorts of exotic millipedes as pets these days....perhaps someone's pet escaped? -- AnneJ ICQ #:- 119531282 |
Unknown creepy crawlie
Thanks to all of you for the replies - it was segmented as in an
armadillo! - and moved not on legs, but by peristalsis? Hope it isn't an escaped pet and is just a baby, we do have a pet shop about half a mile away which sells all sorts of scary things (scary to me, anyway). Aileen "Anne Jackson" wrote in message ... The message from "David Hill" contains these words: $ inch long Millipede in UK? I would have thought that it was a caterpillar of one of the Hawk moths, You can get all sorts of exotic millipedes as pets these days....perhaps someone's pet escaped? -- AnneJ ICQ #:- 119531282 |
Unknown creepy crawlie
"Aileen Howard" wrote in message ... Thanks to all of you for the replies - it was segmented as in an armadillo! - and moved not on legs, but by peristalsis? Hope it isn't an escaped pet and is just a baby, we do have a pet shop about half a mile away which sells all sorts of scary things (scary to me, anyway). I suspect it was a hawkmoth chrysalis. I have seen them before and they can move independently. It had probably been disturbed and was heading back to the soil to pupate. Matt --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.507 / Virus Database: 304 - Release Date: 05/08/2003 |
Unknown creepy crawlie
In article ,
Rusty Hinge wrote: You've got fat millipedes Nick - ½" in diameter? Er, yes. The weather had confused me into thinking this was somewhere else :-) David Hill is probably right. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Unknown creepy crawlie
Thanks for the replies, I think it probably was a disturbed hawkmoth
chrysalis, having been 'googling' at 'orrible things on the Net. Our neighbour's old apple tree overhangs our patio at the bottom of the garden, and they never pick the fruit, which falls off onto our side. Because they don't do anything to care for the tree, the apples are always diseased and we throw them away. My guess is that as one of the bigger apples fell through the branches, it dislodged the pupa, which fell onto the crazy paving and was making for the soil when I happened to see it. All I can say is that if that is the size of the pupa, I hope I don't encounter the moth when it emerges!! Best regards to all who were kind enough to reply, Aileen "Matt" wrote in message ... "Aileen Howard" wrote in message ... Thanks to all of you for the replies - it was segmented as in an armadillo! - and moved not on legs, but by peristalsis? Hope it isn't an escaped pet and is just a baby, we do have a pet shop about half a mile away which sells all sorts of scary things (scary to me, anyway). I suspect it was a hawkmoth chrysalis. I have seen them before and they can move independently. It had probably been disturbed and was heading back to the soil to pupate. Matt --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.507 / Virus Database: 304 - Release Date: 05/08/2003 |
Unknown creepy crawlie
In article ,
Aileen Howard wrote: Thanks for the replies, I think it probably was a disturbed hawkmoth chrysalis, having been 'googling' at 'orrible things on the Net. Our neighbour's old apple tree overhangs our patio at the bottom of the garden, and they never pick the fruit, which falls off onto our side. Because they don't do anything to care for the tree, the apples are always diseased and we throw them away. My guess is that as one of the bigger apples fell through the branches, it dislodged the pupa, which fell onto the crazy paving and was making for the soil when I happened to see it. The legs on a millipede are very obvious, and that could only be a tropical one - even then, 4" is a bit short for 1/2" diameter. All I can say is that if that is the size of the pupa, I hope I don't encounter the moth when it emerges!! My daughter came to me saying "There is a moth the size of a sparrow in my room". Nah. Only a wren :-) Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Unknown creepy crawlie
"Aileen Howard" wrote in message ... Thanks for the replies, I think it probably was a disturbed hawkmoth chrysalis, having been 'googling' at 'orrible things on the Net. Our neighbour's old apple tree overhangs our patio at the bottom of the garden, and they never pick the fruit, which falls off onto our side. Because they don't do anything to care for the tree, the apples are always diseased and we throw them away. My guess is that as one of the bigger apples fell through the branches, it dislodged the pupa, which fell onto the crazy paving and was making for the soil when I happened to see it. All I can say is that if that is the size of the pupa, I hope I don't encounter the moth when it emerges!! Well actually it's quite beautiful - not at all scary. Rod |
Unknown creepy crawlie
The message
from (Nick Maclaren) contains these words: In article , Rusty Hinge wrote: You've got fat millipedes Nick - ½" in diameter? Er, yes. The weather had confused me into thinking this was somewhere else :-) Cooo! Oooo-er! It's got legs? -- Rusty http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm horrid·squeak snailything zetnet·co·uk excange d.p. with p to reply. |
Unknown creepy crawlie
The message
from (Nick Maclaren) contains these words: My daughter came to me saying "There is a moth the size of a sparrow in my room". Nah. Only a wren :-) I have a pair of wrens nesting in my front hedge (lonicera) at the moment. There was another pair in the ivy which I've left for just that purpose at the lower half of a big lilac, and another pair nested in a huge 'lollipop' of varigated elephant-ears ivy outside the thunderbox. There was a pair of goldcrests mousing about at the bottom of the garden. -- Rusty http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm horrid·squeak snailything zetnet·co·uk excange d.p. with p to reply. |
Unknown creepy crawlie
Speaking as someone with an obsessive interest in butterflies and
moths I would like to say this that firstly, crysalises DO NOT WALK!!!!They can not walk. The description of what you saw matches the adult caterpillar of a Large Elephant Hawk Moth. It would have been walking to soil in order to bury itself and pupate. The moth that will eventually hatch is one of the most beautiful in this country - bright cerise pink and green. You are priviledged. Helen |
Unknown creepy crawlie
Speaking as someone with an obsessive interest in butterflies and
moths I would like to say this that firstly, crysalises DO NOT WALK!!!!They can not walk. The description of what you saw matches the adult caterpillar of a Large Elephant Hawk Moth. It would have been walking to soil in order to bury itself and pupate. The moth that will eventually hatch is one of the most beautiful in this country - bright cerise pink and green. You are priviledged. Helen |
Unknown creepy crawlie
Speaking as someone with an obsessive interest in butterflies and
moths I would like to say this that firstly, crysalises DO NOT WALK!!!!They can not walk. The description of what you saw matches the adult caterpillar of a Large Elephant Hawk Moth. It would have been walking to soil in order to bury itself and pupate. The moth that will eventually hatch is one of the most beautiful in this country - bright cerise pink and green. You are priviledged. Helen |
Unknown creepy crawlie
Speaking as someone with an obsessive interest in butterflies and
moths I would like to say this that firstly, crysalises DO NOT WALK!!!!They can not walk. The description of what you saw matches the adult caterpillar of a Large Elephant Hawk Moth. It would have been walking to soil in order to bury itself and pupate. The moth that will eventually hatch is one of the most beautiful in this country - bright cerise pink and green. You are priviledged. Helen |
Unknown creepy crawlie
Speaking as someone with an obsessive interest in butterflies and
moths I would like to say this that firstly, crysalises DO NOT WALK!!!!They can not walk. The description of what you saw matches the adult caterpillar of a Large Elephant Hawk Moth. It would have been walking to soil in order to bury itself and pupate. The moth that will eventually hatch is one of the most beautiful in this country - bright cerise pink and green. You are priviledged. Helen |
Unknown creepy crawlie
Thanks to Helen for a comprehensive and interesting reply. I shall now
*try* to look forward to seeing the mature version (the moth), but I am a bit phobic about some things:-( Regards, Aileen "Helen" wrote in message om... Speaking as someone with an obsessive interest in butterflies and moths I would like to say this that firstly, crysalises DO NOT WALK!!!!They can not walk. The description of what you saw matches the adult caterpillar of a Large Elephant Hawk Moth. It would have been walking to soil in order to bury itself and pupate. The moth that will eventually hatch is one of the most beautiful in this country - bright cerise pink and green. You are priviledged. Helen |
Unknown creepy crawlie
"Helen" wrote in message om... , crysalises DO NOT WALK!!!!They can not walk. Well they can't walk coz they don't have legs, but they can move by wriggling, I know Because I have seen them do so. Matt --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.507 / Virus Database: 304 - Release Date: 06/08/2003 |
Unknown creepy crawlie
The message
from "Aileen Howard" contains these words: Thanks to Helen for a comprehensive and interesting reply. I shall now *try* to look forward to seeing the mature version (the moth), but I am a bit phobic about some things:-( No need to be: just think nice pretty harmless aeroplane - with legs. -- Rusty http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm horrid·squeak snailything zetnet·co·uk excange d.p. with p to reply. |
Unknown creepy crawlie
Not sure that will help! But thanks;)
Aileen "Rusty Hinge" wrote in message ... The message from "Aileen Howard" contains these words: Thanks to Helen for a comprehensive and interesting reply. I shall now *try* to look forward to seeing the mature version (the moth), but I am a bit phobic about some things:-( No need to be: just think nice pretty harmless aeroplane - with legs. -- Rusty http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm horrid·squeak snailything zetnet·co·uk excange d.p. with p to reply. |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:52 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter