Country diary: Saving a stunning caterpillar from certain death | Claire Stares

Langstone, Hampshire: It gripped on to my hands like Velcro, and as I waited to cross the road, passing motorists glanced quizzically at usAs I walked into town, the crunch of beech mast underfoot made me glance down. My eyes were immediately drawn to a plump, green hawkmoth caterpillar undulating across the pavement. It's common for the mature larvae to leave their natal food plants and go wandering in search of a place to pupate in loose soil beneath their host tree, but this individual was perilously close to the edge of the kerb and, with a steady stream of oncoming traffic, I didn't fancy its chances if it attempted to cross.Crouching down, I gently coaxed it on to my finger, looking around for somewhere safe to relocate it. Unfortunately, it was a barren stretch of road, the bordering gardens enclosed by tall brick walls. Continue reading...