Pale Tussock

vixdname · 26-09-2010 5:05pm #1

Are "Pale Tussock" caterpillars plentiful in Ireland or are they rare ?
Heres a photo of one I found in the garden today.

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ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 26-09-2010 6:19pm

They are described as locally common in the South and west of the country.

Half-cocked · 26-09-2010 6:45pm

I've found them in south Dublin/north Wicklow. Wonderful looking creatures.

Mothman · 26-09-2010 8:26pm

South of an approximate line from Dublin to Galway, widespread and quite common. Absent from from far north and NW.
See recorded distribution

As with most moth species caterpillars are rarely encountered by people not working amongst flora and even then not seen often.

Would you pm details of sighting and I'll enter it in national database?
Location and gridreference
Try satellite view.

snowstreams · 27-09-2010 12:59pm

I saw one on Inisoirr yesterday. It was walking along a stone wall. That map seems to have sightings of them on Inismean since 2000.
I didnt take a picture of it, so I cant be totally sure if it was that species.. though it was furry & yellowish white with black dots.