Fox Moth Caterpillar.Photo: George McCabe

On one of George’s daily walks on 23/0/19 he spotted this large Fox Moth Caterpillar at Southdown Ridge.

This species overwinters as a fully grown caterpillar on or just beneath the ground in moss or leaf litter .This one is probably searching for a suitable site as it feeds until September ,only emerging briefly without feeding to bask in spring sunshine before pupating near the ground and emerging as a moth from May to June.