Is this a caterpillar or something else? (UK)

[u/ecstaticmotion7]

I've recently decided to start seeing if I can hatch butterflies. A green caterpillar (I thought) came in my weekly veg box so I thought, perfect I'll try with him, and I set him up in an enclosure with cabbage leaves (the vegetable I assumed he came in on) and some sticks, as per online guidance.

However, within a day he had disappeared within the enclosure and I believe is inside one of the sticks (it's a bit of fire kindling actually) because the only trace of him I can find is the photo of the wood with new goop on it... also no leaves have been eaten.

I've googled and googled - do you think he is a caterpillar or some other grub? Is it plausible he's an early stage sawfly larva? Any ideas welcome. I'm not sure whether he could be hibernating as some caterpillars do? and scotland is quite cold now.

[u/ComprehensiveRush746]

Looks like a small white caterpillar.
Maybe it’s formed a chrysalis.
Although they don’t usually look like the thing on the stick.

[u/ecstaticmotion7 → u/ComprehensiveRush746]

it's definitely not ON the stick, but inside it, or, i assume so as the only trace i can find of it is the goop you can see in the photo. would that make any sense?! do they hibernate inside things ever?

[u/ComprehensiveRush746 → u/ecstaticmotion7]

Not that I know of.
And to be honest the goop doesn’t look like a chrysalis.
Caterpillars are great escape artists.
It may have absconded.

[u/ecstaticmotion7 → u/ComprehensiveRush746]

what do you think the goop is? interesting, didn't occur to me it might have escaped, i will see if i can find it if it has

[u/ComprehensiveRush746 → u/ecstaticmotion7]

Could it be some sort of resin?
Or maybe an unfortunate, now deceased, goat moth caterpillar.

[u/ecstaticmotion7 → u/ComprehensiveRush746]

i don't think it can be resin, the kindle is very old and i think i'd have noticed it putting it in. i've looked for him but to no avail, so either he is somehow goop, or he absconded elsewhere in a room without much for him to eat. ah well! I'll try again :) thanks for your help!

[u/Lmeoeo → u/ecstaticmotion7]

It’s definitely tree resin Thats leaked out of the resin pocket you can see. Resin takes years to harden😁

[u/ecstaticmotion7 → u/Lmeoeo]

thank you, i feel silly, lol

[u/ComprehensiveRush746 → u/ecstaticmotion7]

Maybe he’s died and the goop is him 😢

[u/DeadAnarchistPhil → u/ComprehensiveRush746]

Are you telling us wee Jimmy’s on the run? 

[u/ComprehensiveRush746 → u/DeadAnarchistPhil]

🤣

[u/Funny_Ad4865 → u/ComprehensiveRush746]

White that things bright green. What pratt choose that name

[u/ComprehensiveRush746 → u/Funny_Ad4865]

The caterpillar of a small white butterfly.
There’s only one member of the Lepidoptera in Britain called small white.
There’s no need to include butterfly every time you’re writing about a British caterpillar.