Large caterpillar found wriggling in North Okanagan

Photo: Peter Ypma

UPDATE 1:34 p.m.

The big wiggly bug mystery appears to have been solved.

Several people have said the multi-coloured critter is a spurge hawk moth caterpillar.

Turning to the knower of all things, a Google search confirms the Okanagan caterpillar looks just like said caterpillar.

And this creepy crawly is an import from the UK.

The spurge hawk moth was the first classical biological agent released against leafy spurge in the United States, with approval for introduction granted in 1965.

It has since spread across the continent. They are not considered rare in Canada, but they are listed as exotic.

And as one would guess, an adult spurge hawk moth is quite large with a wing span of more than three inches.

The moths are not considered to be a problem and are closely related to the native white-lined sphinx moth.

Photo: Contributed

An adult spurge hawk moth can be quite large.

ORIGINAL 12 p.m.

Today's creepy crawly of the week is, well, creepy and crawly.

The latest instalment of 'Name That Bug' comes from Peter Ypma in the Grandview Flats Road area of the North Okanagan.

Ypma said the monster caterpillar was some “three inches long and half an inch in diameter.”

A Google search of 'large black caterpillar with yellow dots and an orange stripe' turns up a variety of multi-legged critters similar, but not identical, to the one found in the Okanagan.

The lily moth caterpillar is a close match. Sometimes called the Indian Lily Moth, the bug is covered with bright orange-red and white markings, a stark contrast to the black background colour.

The caterpillars do eat lilies, including the poisonous Flame Lily.

The adult Lily Moth is a blue-gray moth embellished with patches of pink, yellow, white and black.

So what do you think this big bug is?

Send me an email at [email protected] and let me know.