Insects - Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Flowers - page 291

leaves. The larvae feed from September onwards, lying
stretched out flat against the twigs when at rest. Unlike
most other species, they continue to feed during the
winter, removing bark from the young shoots to expose
the pale wood; they also feed on the dormant buds. In
the spring, when about 20 mm long, the larvae attack
the expanding buds and unfurling leaves. Most
individuals pupate by the end of May. Fully grown
larvae (30-35 mm long) are greyish to greenish brown
or purplish brown, with orange, brown-rimmed
spiracles; they possess a characteristic skirt-like fringe
of pale bristles along either side of the body and, unlike
most geometrids, three pairs of functional prolegs;
younger larvae are generally greyish, often with T-
shaped markings along the back.

herbaceous ornamentals such as Geranium and
Pelargonium . The larvae also feed on seedling trees,
including maple ( Acer ). Although most often reported
on outdoor plants, minor attacks sometimes occur in
greenhouses. The characteristic larvae (up to 35 mm
long) are slender and greenish, with a darker dorsal line
and a pair of yellowish subdorsal lines along the back
(there is sometimes also a complete or interrupted
reddish stripe along the somewhat warty sides); the last
body segment bears a pair of pointed projections. The
larvae feed from September to April, hibernating during
the winter months, but continuing to feed if in heated
greenhouses. Larvae of the summer generation occur
from late June to late July or early August. Fully grown
individuals pupate amongst withered leaves on the host
plant or amongst debris on the ground. The mainly
black to brownish adults (32-35 mm wingspan) occur in
May and June, and in the autumn.

Chloroclysta truncata (Hufnagel) ( 751-752 )
syn. Cidaria truncata (Hufnagel)
Common marbled carpet moth
Minor infestations of this generally common and
extremely varied species occur occasionally on

749 750

749 Light emerald moth ( Campaea margaritata ). 750 Larva of light emerald moth ( Campaea margaritata ).

752

751

751 Common marbled carpet moth ( Chloroclysta truncata ). 752 Larva of common marbled carpet moth ( Chloroclysta

truncata ).