Guess what this starlike creature is! - It is the caterpillar of a sycamore [Acronicta aceris] (Ahorneule): When it is at rest it curls up and then looks like a sun or star. It is found in most parts of Europe, doesn's seem to be endangered but is seen rarely. It feeds on maple leaves of course, but also eats leaves of other trees as horse chestnut trees, oak, hazel, beech, lime, poplar, willow and elm tree. Typically it leaves nothing but the leaf-vein. In contrast to the colorful caterpillar the moth shows an inconspicuous pattern with grey, white and black. It seems that some of the pupae overwinter twice and hatch only the year after next.
