Found on our Rosa Malvern Hills...

Thats an unusual one...

Never seen one like that before! Have you Googled?

Looks like a white marked tussock caterpillar, which from my brief scan of the internet, is common in the USA. There is also some mention of poisonous qualities, so better check it out before touching!

In my Observers Book of Caterpillars it's called the Vapourer Moth, widespread in B. Isles & very common in the London area. Sometimes occurs in vast nos. in parks & gardens. As Cc says, irritant hairs. Eats most deciduous trees & shrubs, oak, lime, blackthorn, hawthorn, fruit trees & roses. There's also a dark & a pale tussock.

Thanks Feverfew. I was worried it was a foreign invader!

I don't much like the look of that !

I think it's rather pretty, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say, not everyone likes bugs.

I think it's very beautiful. I'd love to see one. :)

It's the Vapourer moth and the caterpillars like my Huecherer so I spread the caterpillars around so they don't eat too much of each plant. The hairs are an irritant so it's best not to handle them. They are certainly different aren't they. I've got large white spotted caterpillars on the verbascum and they are the Mullien moth. They've eaten the dying flowerstem but left the others alone.

Our daughter reports that this is a Live Oak Tussock Moth Caterpillar. Nota friend unfortunately.

Have a look at this website
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgyia_antiqua