Caterpillar identification

[baker77]

Can anyone id this caterpillar? It was I think about 5cm long (it was a big beast - that's my shoe next to it). It was in the alps in Switzerland if that's any help.



Thanks

[Japveesix]

Fairly confidant it's a Goat moth (Cossus cossus) which by all accounts is very rare in the UK, not surer about in Europe.

nice looking caterpillar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cossus_cossus

[baker77]

Yep, that looks like it, thanks. It really was a big caterpillar, far bigger than any I've seen before.

[ehonda]

Japveesix said:

Fairly confidant it's a Goat moth (Cossus cossus) which by all accounts is very rare in the UK, not surer about in Europe.

nice looking caterpillar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cossus_cossus

Nature is amazing, isn't it? Looking at the picture in that link it's hard to believe you'd ever spot it sitting on a tree trunk.