Insects - Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Flowers - page 283

Family LYCAENIDAE Family LASIOCAMPIDAE

A large family of mainly small, brightly coloured
butterflies, including 'blues', 'coppers' and
'hairstreaks'. The larvae are stumpy and somewhat
slug-like in appearance, with a retractile head and the
body coated in short hairs.

Medium-sized to very large moths with bipectinate
antennae (most noticeable in males); males usually
much smaller than females of the same species. The
larvae are very hairy on both head and body; crotchets
on the abdominal prolegs are of two sizes (biordinal).

Cacyreus marshalli Butler
Geranium bronze butterfly
A southern African species, associated with various
kinds of Geranium and Pelargonium ; scented cultivars
tend to be avoided. Recently established in the South of
France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, having spread to
mainland Europe via the Balearic Islands, and also
found elsewhere, e.g. in Belgium, England, Germany,
the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Eriogaster lanestris (Linnaeus) ( 723-725 )
Small eggar moth
In parts of mainland Europe a minor pest of amenity
trees such as birch ( Betula ) and lime ( Tilia ); also occurs
on certain other hosts, including blackthorn ( Prunus

723

DESCRIPTION
Adult female: 18-27 mm wingspan; upper surface
mainly bronzy brown, with hair fringes alternately
chequered bronzy brown and white; underside greyish
brown, with black, grey and white markings forming an
irregular wavy pattern; hind wings each with a narrow,
white-tipped tail-like projection. Adult male: 15-23
mm wingspan; coloration and form as in female. Larva:
up to 13 mm long; mainly yellowish to light green, often
with a partial pinkish tinge.

724

LIFE HISTORY
In southern Europe, eggs are laid from May to October.
Most are deposited on flower buds and flower stalks,
but some may be found elsewhere. Following egg hatch,
larvae feed inside the flower buds, and both in or on the
terminal shoots. They also attack the open flowers.
Fully grown larvae eventually pupate on or near their
foodplant, and adults emerge shortly afterwards.
Depending on temperature, there are up to five
generations annually.

DAMAGE
Infested flower buds and terminal shoots are destroyed,
and damage caused is often extensive. Young plants
may even be killed. Damaged tissue is also often
invaded by secondary bacterial and fungal pathogens.

725

723 Female small eggar moth ( Eriogaster lanestris ).

724 Final-instar larva of small eggar moth ( Eriogaster
lanestris ).

725 Larval tent of small eggar moth ( Eriogaster lanestris ).