Thanks Sherry! Definately looks a lot like those pictures. Such a pretty caterpillar to turn into a plain looking moth. Not that I have anything against moths, ha! Are they harmful to plants at all? It was hanging around on my precious little fuscia. :) In any case, we put it in a jar for my daughter to show off and school and maybe she can release him in the gardens there. We actually first put him in a strawberry container with holes obviously WAY too big and he got out in my kitchen and we couldn't find him. We gave up and sat down to dinner and were talking about where he could be and noticed him reaching out from the curtain inches away from my daughter! Sneaky guy! He's in a mason jar now (with SMALL holes on top.)

Wow, Laura, you've many more than I have. Very cool photo, too! I did go out and found 3 more BSTs and 1 more GF today. Had a Monarch eclose this morning, too. I'm sure it must have been anxious to fly away since it has been rainy here for 3 days - not complaining mind you. Have 2 more to eclose, but am raising approx. 10 GFs and 10 BSTs. I had hoped to see some Cloudless Sulphurs move in, but none so far. Susan

Agree that it is one of the many species of cutworm caterpillars. gently dig around in the soil to see if you can find any more. The larvae can be observed more readily in the evening and night.

well, here is the plant now...it is most definately, alive! It has been outside all summer (if you can call it summer as we have missed out severely on sun/heat this year). I think all the rain we have had has suited it. Last year, I think it dried out too much as I was afraid of over watering it in the cooler temps, it also succumbed to scale insects which did it no favours at all. At present it is clean and healthy. My question is, do I risk it outside (still potted) in a sheltered spot and pull it into the g/h if it seems like getting too cold? I am dubious about this as most of the growth at the moment hasn't hardened off and ripened, a lot of the leaves are still bronze/soft/downy and the new stems are also quite soft. I don't think we will have that much sun now at this stage to ripen it before the temps dip. Help, I don't want to 'almost' loose it again! It has already used up several of it's lives. Gill. Here is a link that might be useful: previous post