One of the other guys at work called me over to see this impressive caterpillar walking across the track near our work-shed area, obviously looking for somewhere to pupate.
This is the second time I’ve seen a larva of this species in the vicinity of the sheds, so there must be a ‘Cossus’ tree somewhere close by, especially as I’ve also caught the moth at least twice there too. I’ve now got the larva at home in a pot of wood chips to make its cocoon in. They really do smell very strongly just like the books say!
Neil
A good find!
Have you searched for likely Cossus trees? I’ve never seen a larva, and would love to do so (I grew up reading PBM Allen’s books, in which he often features Cossus).
Has yours already ‘gone down’?
I have searched many times in the areas of the course where I have caught the moth but haven’t managed to find any trees occupied by larvae (by the classic signs of holes and sap runs etc). Maybe they occur at low density in many trees rather than in just one heavy infested tree. The larva has now made a cocoon in the wood-chips so its now in the garage for the winter.