If I had been less affectionate towards the tree I caught this caterpillar and a dozen of its siblings on today, I might have let them eat on and then be eaten themselves by birds.

But they were rapidly doing in the fresh growth on my forty-odd-year-old Pet Pine.

So I picked 'em off and squashed 'em.

Then I thought, Oh I should have taken their picture first. So I opened up the paper towel in which they were squashed and found one I could get a picture of. And I did.

Thus I was able to go to Mr Google and ask what it is, was, and thus in turn I was told that this was, is, an ex-European pine sawfly larva (Neodiprion sertifer).

I don't always trust Mr Google in these matters, but in this one I think he is probably correct.

And, for Pet Pine's sake, I'm glad I squashed 'em.