Unusual Creature Spotted: Woman Discovers Rare Animal

In the quaint town of Seibranz, a remarkable find has been made - a caterpillar of the Middle Vine Hawk Moth (Deilephila elpenor). This discovery, made in a resident's fuchsias, has sparked excitement among local wildlife enthusiasts and experts alike.

The Middle Vine Hawk Moth is known to be one of the largest native caterpillars, capable of growing up to eight centimeters long. Its robust build and the distinctive eye spots on its head make it a unique find. The caterpillar's greenish colour, particularly when found on grapevine and water lily leaves, adds to its allure.

Interestingly, the Middle Vine Hawk Moth is less common now compared to its past prevalence. Its hidden lifestyle makes it difficult to discover, contributing to its rarity. The pupation of the moth occurs in late summer in the leaf litter on the ground. Moths of the Middle Vine Hawk Moth emerge in June.

Martin Feucht, the NABU specialist advisor for butterflies, has not been able to find the Middle Vine Hawk Moth this year. However, the moth is still more common in certain regions, such as the Alpine region, including the Little Walsertal and Upper Swabia, than in the rest of Baden-Württemberg.

The Large Vine Hawk Moth, another species of the hawk moth, inhabits Southern Europe and only rarely wanders to Germany. Its caterpillars can grow up to nine centimeters long and have differently colored eye spots behind the head, as well as a light side stripe under the spine at the rear end of the abdomen.

While the discovery of the Middle Vine Hawk Moth caterpillar is undoubtedly a beautiful find for experts, it seems the reader who made the discovery had never seen such a caterpillar before. The excitement didn't stop there; several neighbors also visited to see the rare find.

In a separate incident, the type of spider beetle likely discovered in Seibranz is the Gibbium psylloides. This finding serves as another testament to the diverse wildlife in the region.

As we continue to appreciate and learn about the fascinating world of insects, discoveries like these remind us of the beauty that lies hidden in our surroundings, waiting to be found.