January Caterpillar!

[JustinFun]

Yesterday I picked a load of perpetual spinach from our UK garden, and there was a caterpillar on one of the leaves! It was light green and looked like the non-stripey cabbage white caterpillars (although they're not usually on spinach?).

It's not really a problem, but I just thought - surely this is unusual? We're only a few days past some really heavy frosts!

Is a new race of super frost-resistant caterpillars about to rise up and take over the world?

[MuddyWitch]

Is a new race of super frost-resistant caterpillars about to rise up and take over the world?

I truly hope not!!!

Where abouts are you? Is it really mild where you live?

Just off to check my broccoli

MW

[JulieSherris]

I think it's more a problem with perpetual spinach - which is why I won't be growing it in my garden

I don't know about a super-caterpillar-species, but sometimes just when you think it's safe to go back in the garden........

[JustinFun]

Where abouts are you? Is it really mild where you live?

Just off to check my broccoli

MW

We're in Kent, so not the coldest place in the UK, but we still had heavy frosts a couple of weeks ago, and an inch or so of ice on the pond.

My four year old is now keeping the arctic caterpillar as a pet.

[Millymollymandy]

Oh great, I noticed the black fly was still alive in my PS brocolli, but thought my curly kale would be safe after the big freeze. Back to very careful checking for caterpillars again then.

[BestBreast]

I have found a few caterpillars some green and some brown. Gave them to my chickens!!! Think it may be a good year for caterpillars.

[becks77]

Couldn't believe it, but one of the hairy little b***ers crawled out of the strawberry plants today.
Looks like it might be a good year for them here too...........arrrrgh

[evelyn]

I found 7 big brown caterpillars on the willow tree in the front garden yesterday, they made a very nice treet for my chuks as will any other nastys i find this year. The girls seem to have rid the back garden of slugs if only for a short while.

Eve

[JustinFun]

Well our january caterpillar has come out of its chrysalis (our 4 year old has been keeping it in a large jar and dutifully feeding it more perpetual spinach leaves). It's some sort of moth - beautiful, it looks like a spiky dried leaf. We took some photos - will post them soon.

[Millymollymandy]

Look forward to seeing them!