Lobster moth larva

I am currently raising a batch of Lobster moth larvae. As you can see they are really bizarre and run around at speed just like little ants! This little fella is in the second instar at the moment and just over half an inch in length but growing fast...which is just as well as he needs to reach maturity and pupate before the leaves fall off my silver birch tree!
The Lobster moth Stauropus fagi  is mainly distributed in the southern part of Britain  but is not especially common and remains a species I have only ever caught once in my moth trap.