Following sightings of ‘dragon’-sized moths in an area of Greater Manchester, a new little creature has taken the spotlight.
Bury locals are trying to work out what it might be, prompting some hilarious suggestions.
The tiny creature was found by Adrian Stewart in Tottington on Monday.
He told the Manchester Evening News : "I had no clue to what it was.
"My dog saw it and, when it lifted its head up, I pulled back I thought it was a wee snake.
READ MORE: ‘It was like a dragon’: Huge moths have been landing all over one place in Greater Manchester
"I've never seen one that big."
After posting the image on Facebook, social media users were quick to send Adrian their ideas.
One Facebook user said: "Hawkmoth caterpillar. I found one on a woodland walk last year, it gave me quite a start!"
That would make the insect the baby version of the moths seen around Greater Manchester during the warm weather.
Other Facebook commenters took the opportunity to have a laugh, suggesting it was a Pokemon, a baby Mongolian rattlesnake - and a 'stoat... definitely a stoat'.
The fierce debate over whether Greater Manchester Manchester's local wildlife is loved or loathed also continued.
One social media user said: "I found one near my bins and popped it on the grass to be safe. Beautiful."
Another man was less keen, commenting: "Send it back to hell."
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Thankfully, experts from Chester Zoo have been on hand to clear up the confusion - and explain why the insect so strongly resembles a snake.
The zoo's Animal and Plant Director, Mike Jordan: “This is a Large Elephant Hawkmoth ( Deilephila elpenor ).
"The caterpillar feeds on willowherb, but also fuchsias so is quite often seen in gardens.
"When disturbed, it inflates the segments behind the head (as in the picture) to mimic a snake.”
