Today, I saw one of the most beautiful insects I had ever seen.
While out on a garden clear up I was moving some weeds and came across this amazing creature.
Over the past few weeks, I have heard people talk about this caterpillar and I have seen some pictures, but I had never seen one in my life so close up.
This baby is called the elephant hawk caterpillar and I have to say that I am so thankful in the Lord for letting me find one.
This caterpillar is about 2.5 inches long and has a thick body to boot, I couldn't help but pick it up and have a closer look at it.
With what looks like a massive head at the front with two big eyes this isn't it's true head, and when it is scared it retracts to make this look even bigger to scare away predators.
The real head is only so small and looks strange as it is crawling about with a chunky section so close to its head.
The skin is so smooth, it is like velvet but its little spike at the end is firm like a rose bush thorn but not at all sharp.
The patterns on this magnificent creature made it look like part of the weeds I was pulling out of the ground, and if I had not had stopped when I did it would have made its way into the weed mulcher.
I am just so happy that I got the opportunity to see this first hand, my customer said she didn't want it in her garden so I have now homed it in my butterfly tunnel at my allotment.
I happen to know that it will eat Fushia and finally when it is full will make it's way to the ground to spin its cocoon and that will be the last time I see it until next summer when it will come out as a moth.
How cool is it to find something like this? whats the biggest caterpillar you have ever seen?
This has to be the biggest one I have ever seen here in the UK.
Until next time my friends, stay safe.