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Spanworm on the move After trying some time to identify the caterpillar I decided to give up and just post the picture.<br /> Kudos for knowing/finding the name. Alsophila aceraria,Geotagged,The Netherlands Click/tap to enlarge Species introCountry intro

Spanworm on the move

After trying some time to identify the caterpillar I decided to give up and just post the picture.
Kudos for knowing/finding the name.

    comments (6)

  1. View Frankhuizen Photography's profile
    Frankhuizen Photography
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Glad we don't have to walk like this ;-)
    Is it on your hand/arm?     Posted 12 years ago
    1. View Joost Thissen's profile
      Joost Thissen
      Lion
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      Indeed walking like this looks quite uncomfortable. Although our spine could use some of this flexibility.
      Yes, I placed him on my arm after he fell out of a tree.       Posted 12 years ago, modified 12 years ago
      1. View WildFlower's profile
        WildFlower
        Lion
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        It's a Geometrid Moth caterpillar, known as spanworm, measuringworm or inchworm. Do you know what tree it was on, that might help? Posted 12 years ago, modified 12 years ago
        1. View Joost Thissen's profile
          Joost Thissen
          Lion
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          Thanks for your help!
          I don't know how the tree is called, it is the large one by the benches on the left side of this photo:
          http://www.panoramio.com/photo/55838599           Posted 12 years ago
          1. View WildFlower's profile
            WildFlower
            Lion
            View Lion class
            I assume this is an oak tree, but I cannot see the leaves clearly to be sure. With that in mind, the closest match I found was Pale maple moth or najaarsboomspanner (Alsophila aceraria), but I'm not 100% sure. Posted 12 years ago
        3. View Joost Thissen's profile
          Joost Thissen
          Lion
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          I think the Pale maple moth (Alsophila aceraria) is right, and if not, we can change it later.
          Thanks for helping!           Posted 12 years ago

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The Pale maple moth

''Alsophila aceraria'' is a species of moth in the Geometridae family. It is found from south-western Europe and France to Germany, Austria, Italy, western Ukraine, the Balkan Peninsula, the southern Crimea, the Caucasus and Transcaucasus.

The wingspan is 24-33 mm. Adults are on wing from mid October to mid December in one generation per year.

The larvae feed on ''Quercus robur'', ''Quercus petraea'', ''Acer campestre'', ''Fagus'', ''Carpinus'' and ''Prunus'' species. The larvae.. more

Info 2 0
Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Joost Thissen
View Joost Thissen's profile

By Joost Thissen

Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
Uploaded Apr 26, 2013. Captured May 28, 2012 11:56 in Leenderweg 1A, 5583 TC Waalre, The Netherlands.
country flag of Netherlands Explore Netherlands 8,314 2,306 0
  • SLT-A55V
  • f/3.2
  • 1/160s
  • ISO400
  • 90mm