This is the caterpillar of the *buff-tip* (Phalera bucephala), *wapendrager* in Dutch. It is about 6cm (2.2") long. This species is found in Europe and Mongolia, and sometimes right in front of my feet:

![](http://www.den-uijl.nl/photography/stored/WapendragerRups.jpg)
*<sup>Olympus XZ-1, 28mm, ISO250, f4.5, 1/40s</sup>*

The moth itself is fairly big, with a wing span of about 65mm (2.6"). It is very well camouflaged with its wings closed; it manages to look like a piece of birch wood. I kid you not, look:

![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Buff-tip.._Phalera_bucephala._%2814253713731%29.jpg/634px-Buff-tip.._Phalera_bucephala._%2814253713731%29.jpg)
*<sup>Photo by gailhampshire, from WikiMedia Commons, under a CC BY 2.0 license</sup>*

They come out at night, making them even more difficult to spot. I have never seen one myself.

Thanks for watching!

*Previous in series: [Lackey Moth](https://steemit.com/photography/@ocrdu/caterpillars-lackey-moth).*