The caterpillar of the Pale Tussock Moth (Calliteara pudibunda) is large and very visible;
which is just as well. Otherwise, I would have trundled over this one with the ride-on mower.
It seemed out of place somehow and far too exotic for a Sussex garden.
The caterpillars feed on a range of tree leaves including elm, birch, hazel, lime and oak. And hops … which explains (a bit) its colloquial name of ‘hop dogs.’ Here on the meadow, it was probably chomping on my fruit tree leaves – also part of its diet.
I didn’t pick it up as those hairs looked defensive and sure enough, when I got home, I read that they can cause irritation* and a nasty rash.
It is always interesting to come across a new creature at the Priory – especially one so colourful. And the adult Pale Tussock Moth is quite ridiculously cute – for a moth. In fact, it is probably the cutest moth you’ve ever seen. Don’t believe me? Well, have a look – there’s a photo of one here.
Told you.
oooOOOooo
*postscript October 2017.
I’ve received the following email from a reader. The hairs on a Pale Tussock Moth Caterpillar are more than just an irritant:
“… In our case, (the caterpillar) wasn’t highly visible as it was on a tennis ball which I picked up whilst playing club tennis under flood lights. Ball and caterpillar stuffed into joggers whilst serving. Searing pain and resultant welts fully visible 48hrs later.
Day 3 and the welts still look angry and itch.
I subsequently got hit from on high by an acorn …”
So don’t pick up a Pale Tussock Moth Caterpillar without gloves and definitely don’t stick one down your pants.
Watch out for falling acorns too.
The Anxious Gardener 
Can anyone explain this behaviour then.. I found one of these (identical to the picture with the red spike) on the top step (of two..) 0n my conservatory about to enter.. So I gathered it on a piece of card and took it to the edge of my drive (fifteen feet maybe).. I continued what I was doing and was amazed about fifteen minutes later to see it on the top step again.. This time I again took it in the other direction where I could see it and after a few minutes uncoiling itself it had again started the diagonal journey again, over fallen leaves around rocks and back again on the bottom step heading for the top one.. I’m mystified.. Mike
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Hi Mike, sorry for the delay – I’m overseas at the moment. I don’t know why the Caterpillar should be so fixated on getting to a particular point and perhaps we never will? But someone else might know. All the best, Dave
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Great photos… what a dramatic creature! Forewarned is fore-armed…or something.. something so endearing about the person putting one in a pocket inadvertently.. with itchy results : / Glad you are recycling some posts… always a pleasure to view your stellar photos (bit jealous), and share in your assorted rambles and ruminations. x
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Thanks Jo. I’ll have to rummage about in the archive to see what else I might come up with! D
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Look forward to perusing those archival gems… btw hope all is well with you…shall be in touch..
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Yes, good thanks. Off for a few days from tonight – it’ll be a nice break from leaf-raking. D
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Fascinating! And wonderful pictures too. I loved the story from the tennis player, managed to do that myself with a ball covered in ants a few weeks ago. Eeek!
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Ouch. But in comparison to the tennis player you got of lightly. I once sat on a tussock in Germany to change into cycling shorts (it’s a long story) only to discover I’d sat on a wood-ant nest. They really, really don’t like to be sat on. Double eeek. D
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I don’t remember ever seeing one in real life, but I’ll be sure to stay away from it if I do see one.
Thanks for this post.
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Worth a close up study if you do see one. Just don’t stroke it. D
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I’ve just found one of these beauties up in a leaf on my young apple tree 😀 It is pretty, however I find moths slightly freaky and they tend to be met with that strange involuntary noise made when something (like a moth) flies too close to your hair/ear…..But this guy does like almost cute……..almost!
I still prefer the family of robins that have moved into the tress in my back garden 🙂
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Hi Lauren, you wouldn’t believe how much traffic this post still gets two years after I first posted it. There must be an awful lot of people out there are seeing PTM caterpillars. I know the involuntary noise thing well and do it myself but usually when something bigger breaks cover nearby – normally a pheasant or moorhen. Doesn’t half make me jump! Dave
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I have found one on the ground today where I was clearing. I have put him behind some rocks but I’m not sure where is best. I have trees, is he better at the foot of one of those, do they hide in bark or something. I have lots of frogs, I fear he’ll be a snack behind those rocks.
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Hi Elly, I’m sure he’ll will be fine where you put him and I don’t think that frogs would be interested in eating a caterpillar so covered in thick protective hairs. (But I’m no expert)! Dave
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is it possible to find one of these caterpillars in white rather than yellow ? i have just found a white one that looks very much like this underneath a rhubarb leaf
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Hi Hayley, hmm – I’m not sure. I’ve had a quick look on-line to check. If it had a red tail spike it probably was a pale tussock moth caterpillar. But the site I looked at said the colour ranged from green to yellow with no mention of white. If you took a photo and send it to me I could double check for you? Dave
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I believed you – but checked anyway, and was glad I did, what a ridiculous looking (but very cute) critter. Now wonder the caterpillar is such a show-off too, looks so strokeable. Glad you didn’t mow it. Fabulous photos.
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Mowing disaster averted, Janet. And stroking disaster averted too. Dave
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hes a little beauty..aint he?
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Yep! (Only a little late in my response)!
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I think Tussock moth caterpillars are some of the cutest caterpillars but the Adult Pale Tussock Moth itself is definitely in line for the cutest moth award.
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I’m going to be on the lookout for one now.
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What an amazing caterpillar and moth. Strangely cute and weird at the same time. Loving the hairiness but it’s those slightly scary eyes….
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Yep, I didn’t dwell on the skull-like face. D
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That moth really is cute, but the caterpillar probably won’t win any beauty contests.
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The face maybe not but I think the colouration is pretty impressive, Allen
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That is definately the funniest moth picture I’ve ever seen.
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I know – wish I’d taken it. D
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It does look like it ought to belong in the tropics but no….
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I find that the finding of new creatures is a totally unforeseen bonus of being a gardener.
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Fabulous photos. Funnily enough I found one of these in our vegetable garden on Sunday, and intended to look it up later. Needless to say I had completely forgotten of its existence until seeing your pictures! I’m glad one of us is paying attention 😉 thanks for the id. The moth is indeed going to be very cute, though would still give me a shock to meet on a dark night…
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Yes, Sara. The number of photos I take with every intention of using somehow but simply lie, unused, in a dusty jpeg file. Glad I could be of service. D
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Oh, wonderful photos, Dave. It’s nice to see the caterpillar from different angles. I wonder if those dew drops will tickle once they work their way down to the little beastie’s skin. The moth almost looks like something you’d want to scratch behind the ears. Almost.
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If you were to scratch that caterpillar behind its ‘ears’ you’d regret it, Stacy. I’ve become quite a lover of moths – less showy than butterflies but many of them every bit as beautiful. And cute. D
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Fantastic pictures, and as for the moth, amazing!
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Thanks – the moth looks 50% koala.
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I thought I was imagining the horn-like structure in the first picture, the others only confirmed it, amazing
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I think the horn fools predators that the back is the front – if you see what I mean. D
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