Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Butterfly caterpillar to identify

Posted by Makro Freak on 29-01-2009 01:05
#1

Hi
what this very hungry caterpillar will become after pupation ? :) Can somebody please help me in identying this fellow ?

Location: Munich, Germany, grassland close to a forrest
Size: aprox 8mm

Best regards

Richie

Posted by Tony Irwin on 29-01-2009 01:24
#2

Sawfly (Hymenoptera, Symphyta) - rather undistinguished, so probably difficult to suggest a species :|

Edited by Tony Irwin on 29-01-2009 01:25

Posted by Sundew on 29-01-2009 01:30
#3

This is no butterfly caterpillar but a Symphyta larva (Hymenoptera), in German a so-called "Afterraupe". It has more leg pairs than a Lepidopteran caterpillar and also different eyes. If you knew the plant the larva is feeding on, we could perhaps get closer to the genus. There is a good paper under http://www.zalf.d...hlands.pdf.
Regards, Sundew
PS. Hadn't I searched for the paper, Tony wouldn't have been faster :)

Edited by Sundew on 29-01-2009 01:34