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Caterpillars
Introduction
Caterpillars are the larval form of several insect groups, including moths, butterflies and sawflies. Many are colourful and ornamented with hairs and projections, usually signifying that they are are toxic to birds, their main predators. Other species are camouflaged, usually green or brown, to avoid detection.
Leicestershire and Rutland Resources
None known
Useful Websites and Publications
Online
https://lepiforum.org/ - whilst it is in German it has an excellent series of images of both adults and caterpillars so useful if you have a candidate species in mind.
Several of the websites and social media sites dedicated to moths, butterflies and sawflies cover caterpillars as well.
Printed
Field Guide to the Caterpillars of Britain and Europe (Collins Field Guide) - includes moths and butterflies. Illustrations are not the best but it does usefully group caterpillars by their food plants.
If you know of other websites or books that you would recommend, do let us know: info@naturespot.co.uk
Recording Schemes
As with all records, any submissions you make to NatureSpot will be automatically forwarded to both local and national recording schemes.
Visit our County Recorders page to find out who is the CR in VC55 (Leicestershire and Rutland).