Deilephila elpenor

Or, the Elephant Hawkmoth larva.

George and William arrived at 10 am as Len and I were just getting breakfast. The intention had been to visit Shepshed Carnival this afternoon, but it was so hot we stayed in the shade in the garden all day, keeping William amused with train tracks, paddling pool, football, the slide and stories.

As George drove away, we found this caterpillar outside the front door. It was about seven cm long. I looked it up on Google and decided that it probably was Elephant Hawkmoth. The alternative was Square-spot Rustic - Xestia xanthographa.

Everything wound up on Poldark this evening but I think much more satisfactorily than in the books.