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Vanessa sp.
40 mm long black caterpillar, with double yellow stripe on the side. 4 prolegs, 1 anal proleg and 2 thoracic legs. The caterpillar of Vanessa cardui or Vanessa atalanta.
Spotted crossing a wooden bridge between two alpine meadows. There were many more around. Alt. 1600 m ASL.
Thanks Emma. I saw adult red admirals at the same location a few weeks later...
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/136...
We have red admirals .Not as many as other Vanessa sp though, A striking butterfly.
Thanks for the ID suggestion EarlyStages! Even though the place of spotting is part of the area of distribution for these butterflies in the summer, I have never spotted them there. There were certainly plenty of thistles around.