Caterpiller of the Pale Tussock Moth.

He`s lovely,however once he turns I`d be scared of him,aint it daft........

Wow... I would definitely dance with him at the Ugly Bug Ball :o)
Nominated for GoYpedia and for my prom date..Lol.

Another cracking shot Toto.

Beautiful colour and hair-style. Brilliant close up.

Looks like a mobile brush. Great pic though! ;o)

A Dandelion springs to mind, he is so fluffy!

Thank you all. He's not good one to handle as the hairs can cause quite serious irritation.The moth is pretty drab by comparison.

I've just been in contact with him TT and he wants to know date and time for the ball.
Thank you for the nomination.

Wow....just look at him.....Beautiful Good shot Toto..

great shot Toto

He looks enormous Toto....is he bigger than most?

Thanks Milky and Irish.
He's not that big Cat, he's about 40mm long.

oh dear ..now I need to go find a ruler with mm on it...mmmm...

Hi Toto...
Well, I have this gorgeous caterpillar for my dancing partner and now you tell me he can cause serious irritation.... Should I dress for our date in wet suit and flippers...?
Time... 18.00 hours...... Date..... 31st October. 2009....

It's about 1 and 5/8 inches Cat.
Well TT forget the caterpillar, if your wearing that sort of kinky gear I'm coming instead.

It's a date... don't be late..:o) xxx

I'll meet you under the clock.

I'll be the one wearing a red poppy :o)

Got it.

Thanks for the inches measurement..about the size I imagined.. :)

Ooooooooo Toto this is a Real Beauty:) did u see the Pic of the Caterpillar i found last wk when gardening ? id be so grateful if ud take a look&see if u know what it is :) X

I'm not sure if I saw it or not but I'll check.

Thanx so much Toto :) I loaded a Pic & a Blog of it :)

I've just had another look at your caterpillar Jacque and the nearest I can come to identifying it is that it may be a "Figure of Eight" the pattern looks right but the colour looks wrong. Sorry can't be more help.

Many Thanx 4 trying Toto :) xxx

Wow, fab caterpillar Toto!

Thanks Tastey.

Wow....isn't he lovely. What a great shot. Well done Toto.

Thanks Gilli.

Never seen a caterpillar like this...........I shall come to the Ball dressed as an old dragonfly.

Dragonflies are beautiful Lindak but you wouldn't qualify for the "old" bit. It would take you to long to prepare. Come as a young one.

Ok then I will come as the old one ..I will be the Diva Dragonfly with a tiara...lol

Sorry Cat but you don't qualify either. If your a day over thirty I'll eat my hat. You may certainly come as a diva, but a young one.

Well..now I am dissapointed and your hat is going to be a bit dry so get a drink before you start..I like being a Tiara wearing Diva Dragonfly ..you can call me Madam Beyonce.... :)

Ok Madam Beyonce I'll take your advice and have a few beers just as a warm up.

I'm coming to the ball dressed in electric blue draped in diamonds with gold hints to my wings and I shall be called La Belle de la Nuit. The diamonds represent the stars the gold the moonlight and the blue the sky. I usually have an elderflower wine to sip very daintily.

La Belle? Have you tried the Fairy supping sauce that Gilli of the North makes...? It is so very delicate, mmmm..has a kick mind you...
Oh..& I love red..my gown will be as a red & pink sunrise shot through with the shimmering of the moons last silver light at daybreak. The Silver is to match my tiara, and shimmering wings of course.
I wonder?..What did the Tussock Cat-terpiller say what she was going to wear, for her birthday ball? She was looking a might bit pale..I am sure she is concerned as to what she should wear..being a moth and all...

A few beers Toto?..tut..tut..you will need something much stronger than that...

He will need something strong, with you in red and me in blue escorting him on each arm, and with our strong wings we can whisk him up into the night sky and show him the stars then take him back down to where the ball is to be held so that he can have a dance with the Tussock Cat- terpillar. Is there an end to this story? Are any other insects attending the ball? Do write in and let us know what is to happen next.............

Not a lot to report till after 3lst October when Toto has invited to take me to the Ugly Bug Ball... I hope he is preparing his Hallowe'en outfit.... Lol.

I can't wait to see all you beautiful ladies with or without your costumes. I'm afraid that I wouldn't be able to keep up with any of you as my costume will be the same as I go to work in, go to the pub in and go on holiday in and you would be so disapointed if you saw me without my coverings.

Toto.~
I already have a photo of you on my favourites without your coverings...
...Short Winged Cone Head Cricket...10th August. Lol....
.. and now this one is going on my favourites, too, so I don't forget the time and location of our date. he he he. :o)

Lindak...do we have the right ball? Ugly Bug Ball?..We are highly offended, we are, to think we are going to the ugly bug ball...why yes before we come out of our nymph shells we are not the prettiest creatures around but after we unfurl our wings and let them dry why we are Gorgeous!...oh my...I may have to rethink my tiara and red gown...ugly bug ball...harummmmph

Cat.....don't look for a ruler with mm.....25 mm equal 1 inch.

Now, I hear there is going to be a ball??? No one told me.....was I left out on purpose? I will turn up anyway with a gown of deepest purple. The purple of the juiciest ripest blackberries, shot through with diamonds to represent the glinting of the morning dew.......

TT.....are you calling Toto a Short Winged Cone Head Cricket???

No way were you left out on purpose Gilli. You too are very welcome. Your gown sounds lovely and don't concern yourself with me, I have been called lots of things and Cone Head Cricket is probably one of the nicest. As for the Halloween outfit TT, I'll come as I am as I'm sure that will fit the bill as ugly enough to win first prize.
Am I to be the only man (well sort of) at this ball?

Catfinch I didn't say it was the ugly bug ball It was Terratoonie. Dragonflies are beautiful creatures with colours like the most precious jewels. So we are precious creatures and will be clothed in dresses to match our beauty.

Dragonflies and all you lovely ladies are precious and beautiful.

Thanks Toto.......

I feel better now..batting my beautiful Diva Dragonfly eyelashes... :) Thank you Toto.... simper...preen...flutter...I was buzzing around wildly before in a tirade you know.....oh my the tears..I am exhausted now...will have to find a reed and rest a bit ...Love your gown Gilli...oh and I do love blackberries..they are all over right now on our flights out and about..I cannot help but sit and sip their nectar...
and Thank you Lindak...TT? what Ugly Bug do you propse to come as? I want to greet you as you enter...or find you when I get there!...titter...Toto..you will be attacked of course..so perhaps you will want to put on a bee workers outfit..

I said that I was going to come as an old dragonfly as I've got my bus pass now.....but I can still look lovely in an electric blue dress draped with diamonds like the stars in the night sky and gold tipped wings to reflect the moonshine.

Since when did dragonflies attack Cat?
When did you start misappropriating more elderly peoples bus passes and telling fibs Lindak?

No Gilli, I'm not calling Toto a Short Winged Cone Head Cricket....
not his sport...
Cat...you ask which Bug I will be at the Ugly Bug Ball ?

I'm considering Aperia syringaria....aka.. Lilac Beauty..
and Toto can accompany me as Thymelicus lineola...
aka....Essex slipper. :o)

Toto.... you won't be the only man there...
there will be a cardboard cut-out of Burl Ives singing :
Come on let's crawl to the Ugly Bug Ball....

I'm going to eat a porky pie for lunch today but I really do have a bus pass Toto.

Lol Linda... how was the Porky Pie ? :o)

Sorry Toto...but ..ahemmm..you are male..you see..and.....we-ellll
we are female.. :) mmmm hmmm!
lol..Crawing is good TT...but so glad I have my shiny wings..finally!
Porky Pie is that like Porky Pig? "eeebadadeeeebdaThats all folks?"
Why does a bus pass make you old?

I'm certainly not pretty enough to be an Essex Skipper TT, even with pounds and pounds of make up.
I too have a bus pass Lindak but I got mine through attaining that certain age where it is obvious that you stole yours.
Cat, I do understand where your coming from but I am an ugly old bugger with nothing to offer and you are a beautiful young lady.

Just realised I typed Essex Slipper.... instead of Essex Skipper LOL.
Toto, you'd be Essex Slipping over on the floor after you've had a couple of ciders..:o)

Probably TT, but oblivion is the best way to pass this life by.

Looking forward to Hallowe'en :o)

I thought perhaps there was something special about slippers worn in Essex......and imagined Toto decked out as an old slipper with holes in the soles.....LOL

Cat.....don't tell me you didn't savour a pork pie while on your visit to Wales. Melton Mowbry??? It's scrumcious.....Lovely pork filling with spices and a gelled juice wrapped in a heavy suet pastry. Sometimes there is a hard boiled egg in the middle of the pie. Eaten cold. Gosh....that brings back some memories. Haven't had one for years. You can't get them over here unless you find a specialty British butcher shop. For a while, back in the late 70's and early 80's M&S tried opening over here......They used to have pork pies that weren't bad at all.

I get pork pies from our butcher in the Town and they are really lovely. Not fatty at all and the pastry is nice and light too. While I was waiting in the queue a pig in two halves was bought through the shop. The meat is lovely and fresh.

LOL..I told GF that Gilli....he says well..pork pies are the worst thing for you....so he would not want to offer me that...I did get to eat a lot of Sticky Toffee Pudding with custard sauce...however...lol

Lovely little catterpilla and what georgous colour too.

Yes he was rather pretty.

shame it has to change :o))

I am quite partial to the yellow triangles on his/her back...marshmallow looking, is maybe why I like them...hmmmm...

I agree Morgana; he turns into a drab looking moth.
Don't think he would taste much like marshmallow Cat.

I wonder why the moths seem to appear at dusk

heat seeking creatures aren't they...always following the heat from lights at the porches...

Such a beautiful creature (I mean the caterpillar), but we don't really want the moth...: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/calpud/tech/calpude.shtml

Certainly not if they are anything like the tussock moths in BC.

sorry late to this great shot Toto !

Thank you all.

Morning Toto ~
Well I must say I really enjoyed our date at the Ugly Bug Ball... okay, yes you were a bit late, but not surprising ~ with your having to travel in that amazing costume ! How did you manage to dance the jitterbug, wearing that strange fancy dress ? .. and I thought your liquorice allsorts wellies added a lovely garden theme touch to your whole appearance... :o)

Glad you enjoyed it TT and I bet you thought I wouldn't come! I thought that your costume was fantastic and oh! those legs. I've never seen a bug look so sexy.

Thanks, Toto.
Good thing you are so tall, slim and handsome or you'd never have fitted in that costume... I still don't understand the fig leaves... obviously had some relevance... You did well to get into the London bus wearing that very tall head-dress...
We must repeat this madness next year....same time, same place.... but maybe different costumes...:o)

I'll wear something else but you were so beautiful that I don't think you could improve on the costume you were nearly wearing.

Very kind of you to say so, Toto.
.....so I promise to nearly wear the same costume next year. :o)

I shall look forward to it.

LMAO!! I nearly missed this one!! Glad you had such a good time T&T!! :~))

It was very enjoyable... :o)

Hee hee! sounds it! You been flashing those great legs again??

Oh..I missed..I missed..darn...but you had such a great time..I am glad!!! licorice allsorts! why I would have had to eat them!!!! good thing I wasn't there..or you'd have been shoeless and walked home barefoot!!...........lol

Hi Cat and Madperth ~
If you look at Morgana's pics, she has uploaded photo of Liquorice Allsorts wellies !
Next year, you and Madperth can come along too to the Ugly Bug Hallowe'en Ball....if Toto can manage to dance with all three of us...Lol... and, don't forget your fancy dress costumes. :o)

Oh-oh- this I must see...Toto..Hi by the way :o) ..YOU are eating your allsorts dancing shoes right now aren't you!

He didn't let you down then TT , He's not all bad then , i'm so pleased he made an effort and dressed to kill , well not you obviously , he was dazzled by your fab. legs that's for sure .. ..........

Lol. Amy...
Toto looked absolutely stunning...
I wonder if anyone took a photo of Toto at the Ugly Bug Ball ? ;o)

Hi Cat, I wish you could have been there. Some of the bugs were beautiful but the show was stolen by TT.
Liquorice allsorts kept me going, just. With a woman like TT you need all the stamina you can muster.
What made you think I was bad Amy?

OMG.... Can't wait for Amy's reply....

I would LOVE to come to next year's ball; thank you!
Toto, d'ya think you could stand it??
I think Amy's answer will be illuminating, Terra!! LOL!

He IS bad..we all know that...hehehe...he tells us that all the time..but I would like Amy's take on this..lol...

I have considered my answer very carefully , NO ! you are not bad Toto ....that was the wrong word ... Mischievous , roguish, playful naughty , anyone of those ..LOL...

How could anyone be bad when they gave TT the best night of her life .
Dancing the night away in those beautiful glittery clothes , showing of those lovely legs , Toto , in his best finery every inch the perfect gentleman , ( how did you manage to see the fig leaf TT ) .... have you told us everything ?

Please can we all come next year , do we need to book early ? I will save for some more liquorice allsorts to keep Toto's energy levels up !!

Oh Amy... what a wonderful reply...
The fig leaves were necessary, because as a tribute to GoY, some garden themes were essential... but more than that I won't reveal...Lol.

There is now a long queue of lovely ladies lining up to accompany Toto to the 2010 Ugly Bug Hallowe'en Ball....
.. Let's hire a London Double Decker bus and... yes..
you do need to book early...to avoid disappointment.
Start stocking up on liquorice allsorts now... :o)

I will be coming..Book me..book me..TT...~Cat

Hello Cat....
Your place on the bus is booked....
..the list so far...in alphabetical order...Lol.
Amy, Catfinch, Madperth and Terratoonie. :o)

LOL! Thank you!! I've got nearly a year to decide what kind of bug I'll be!!