i found a big fat bright green one in the cold spell prior to the snow, brought it into the warm house and it livened up immediately, put it in a plastic container with air holes and lettuce leaf, it seemed to have a poo and then turn into a chrysalis (which i kinda expected) – but it has now also churned out 5 tiny chrysalis's – whats it doing??? having babies??

Caterpillar? They make bloody great big bulldozers! 😉

Caterpillar? They make bloody great big bulldozers

LOL

going to be one of those days 😉

careful, they'll make their way to your ears as your sleeping. get a baby robin.

but it has now also churned out 5 tiny chrysalis's – whats it doing??? having babies??

**** knows, but it definitely isn't babies!

My guess – Ichneumon wasps. The other "chrysalis" are probably wasp larvae

careful, they'll make their way to your ears as your sleeping.

I think I might just hear the socking great big diesel engine and the squeaking tracks as it crept up on me.

It wont be laying eggs if it's in the chrysalis stage. They only lay eggs when an adult.
Do you have any photos?

"The female finds a host and lays an egg on, near, or inside the host's body. Upon hatching, the larval ichneumon feeds either externally or internally, killing the host when they themselves are ready to pupate. Despite looking formidable, the ovipositor does not deliver a sting like many wasps or bees. It can be used by the wasps to bore into and lay eggs inside rotten wood."

it's coming to get you…..

Nature: Gross!

Did you get it wet?
Whatever you do don't feed it after midnight.

Shedding the chrysalis.

Get the bug spray now or you won't make it through the week!

By a strange coincidence my daughter got a rogue one in her veggie mince on Saturday
Sent her a bit mental and don't suppose she will ever eat that again

It was a small green one, dead as a dodo though as it had been well and truly cooked in the bolognese sauce

Can't be bothered to take it back, load of agro for about £1.50 and the birds enjoyed all that was left including the aforementioned caterpillar

careful, they'll make their way to your ears as your sleeping

Then this will happen!!!

Agree with Woody, it sounds like an Ichnuemon wasp got to the caterpillar.

It is the insect equivalent of the beastie from Alien – Nuke it from orbit, its the only safe way.

Taste like shite when you bite into them.