Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar.

That's so cute. It's like a cartoon caterpillar!

I think they are amazing we had one in our garden once but haven't seen one since ...

I found one last year and had no idea what it was. I agree Karen, very cute.

thanks everyone. I think the false eyes on the neck are to deter birds from eating it they puff that part up when confronted. It has a hook on the rear end and a small face tucked underneath the front end. The moth has pink in it's wings mixed with brown and pink in with it's body too. The caterpillars like to eat fuchsia and willow herb.

That's true Lindak, the one I found was under my Fuchsia,s Dollar Princess, in the front garden.

this one's nearly ready to pupate Waddy,

Some people don't like caterpillars Homebird. I've never minded holding them, as I've always taken an interest in everything dealing with the wildlife. As a child, I used to take caterpillars into my room at home. My mother hated it.

Linda will you please come and pick the caterpillars off our cabbage plants , Lol ....

Hi Linda, I had one of these growing in my bizzie lizzies a few years ago. The sight of the "Eyes" Scared the living daylights out of my wife.
I think they are great. My one vanished before tuning into a moth!

Amy, if I lived close by I would. Can I suggest that you put some rubber gloves on to pick off the caterpillars, I always think of Margo in the Good Life putting rubber gloves on and picking the runner beans one by one then falling into the mud!

Raymando I'm glad that you have the moths in your area.

What a little beauty. I had one a year or so ago, if I remember rightly. Like you I used to collect caterpillars when I was a child but don't touch them now - I think those hairy ones that cause such a bad reaction put me off! Now they are relocated gently on a twig or leaf :)

We had one in the garden too. It vanished after I put it back where I found it. Very strange creature with those big false eyes.

Yes Gee some have hairs that can irritate the skin. We have one that lives on the huchera and it's from a moth called the vapourer moth, so if they get too many I move some to another plant so they survive. If you put some gloves on it would protect your skin whilst you moved them.
Yes Dorjac they are strange looking, but for a purpose of defence to the birds. When they get this big they are near to pupating. Same with the Vapourer caterpillers with the irritating hairs.

We've had whole trees covered in caterpillars and strange fibre 'nests' - has to be reported to the Council for clearance. Would that be the vapourer moth, Linda, or something different?

I don't think it would be this moth Gee. When a child living in London I can remember walking down the street and there being hundreds of brownish caterpillars just hanging from threads of sick from the trees. They seemed to loop as they walked along. Have you got a picture of them and perhaps I would be able to fathom out what they are.