I was going to dead-head some of the verbascums that have finished flowering when I noticed that they were occupied by some rather cute individuals. I think they are the mullein moth Cucullia verbasci, but the photos on the web look slightly different and I'm not sure how variable it is. Yet again I've made a mental note to buy a book on caterpillars.
They're causing quite a bit of damage to the verbascum leaves, but I don't mind that at all
The caterpillars were not the only ones enjoying the verbascums. My mother has a fear of weevils after once finding one in her tea so as a child I was always responsible for removing any that were foolish enough to come inside the house. This is by far one of the prettiest I've seen:
I think it's Cionus hortulanus.
4 comments:
I'm pretty sure it is a Mullein. The Striped lychnis and Water Betony are both similar but not quite the same.
I needed to use my 'top' caterpillar book to be sure - Jim porter "Caterpillars of the British Isles"
I'm not sure that 'pretty' is an adjective I'd apply to the weevil. 'Interesting', yes. Possibly even 'attractive'. But 'pretty' .....
The photo doesn't do it justice GB!!
Hmmm. I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think some of the weevils I've seen are strikingly beautiful. But this one has a rather unatractive abdomn in my eyes so 'pretty'? I think we may have to differ.
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