Eye on Nature

We discovered the little chap in my photograph on the packaging of a shipment of baby leaf from Italy.
Eoin O'Gorman
Ratoath, Co Meath

It is one of the instars (forms) of the dark-brown saddleback caterpillar with the distinctive green saddle on its back and a pair of spikes or lobes, front and rear, which are covered with stinging spines. It's an extraordinary-looking caterpillar that is native to North America but seems to have found its way recently to Europe.

I have a wasps' nest in the garden that is still active. At the beginning of November dead larvae were deposited at the entrance to the nest.
Martin Crotty
Blackrock, Co Louth

While walking along the River Boyne in Oldbridge, Co Meath, on November 18th I noticed a number of wasps coming out of a hole in mud near the base of a lime tree. They seemed to be feeding young.
Niamh Lennon
Dundrum, Dublin

Wasps were behaving very oddly this year, but the cold weather will kill off all apart from the hibernating queens.

Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address