Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
head black.
Pupa:
22-28 mm long; black to brownish
black; cremaster with several distorted bristles.
this attractive insect is not of pest status and specimens
found on cultivated plant should not be destroyed. The
young larvae feed briefly in the late summer or early
autumn, before hibernating, and complete their
development in the following spring. Fully grown
larvae are
c
. 40 mm long and mainly black, marked
prominently with white and bright yellow. The
spectacular, bright red, yellow, white and black adults
occur in June and July.
LIFE HISTORY
Adults fly in July and August. Eggs are deposited in
large batches on the underside of leaves of herbaceous
plants, especially weeds such as dandelion (
Taraxacum
officinale
), dock (
Rumex
) and plantain (
Plantago
); they
hatch from August onwards. The larvae (commonly
known as 'woolly bears') feed during August and
September and then hibernate, resuming activity in the
following spring. They are then often found sunning
themselves on the foliage of low plants or on nearby
fences and walls. Larvae are fully grown by mid- or late
June. They then pupate in yellowish cocoons spun
amongst debris on the ground.
Hyphantria cunea
(Drury) (
844-848
)
American white moth
larva
fall webworm
An important North American pest, first noted in
Europe in 1940 in Hungary; subsequently found in
certain other countries, including Austria, France, Italy
and the former Yugoslavia. The larvae attack various
trees and shrubs, including ash (
Fraxinus excelsior
),
European hop-hornbeam (
Ostrya carpinifolia
), horse
chestnut (
Aesculus hipposcastanum
), lime (
Tilia
),
maple (
Acer
), rose (
Rosa
),
Sorbus
, southern nettle-tree
(
Celtis australis
) and tree of heaven (
Ailanthus
altissima
), but are most common on box elder (
Acer
negundo
) and mulberry (
Morus
).
=
DAMAGE
Foliage damage is indiscriminate and usually of no
significance; however, on rare occasions, larvae may be
locally abundant and then cause extensive defoliation.
Callimorpha dominula
(Linnaeus) (
842-843
)
Scarlet tiger moth
This widely distributed, distinctly local species is
polyphagous on herbaceous plants, but most abundant
on comfrey (
Symphytum officinale
), green alkanet
(
Pentaglottis sempervirens
) and hounds-tongue
(
Cynoglossum officinale
). In areas where colonies are
established, older larvae sometimes feed in the spring
on ornamental herbaceous plants and young trees,
including ash (
Fraxinus excelsior
), blackthorn (
Prunus
spinosa
), elm (
Ulmus
), flowering cherry (
Prunus
), oak
(
Quercus
), rowan (
Sorbus aucuparia
) and willow
(
Salix
). Although causing slight damage to the leaves,
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
26-30 mm wingspan; mainly white, the fore
wings sometimes flecked with black; male with
noticeably bipectinate antennae.
Egg:
light green, laid
in a large batch.
Larva:
up to 35 mm long; varying from
yellow or yellowish green to brown, with tufts of
whitish hairs arising from black verrucae; spiracles
white, ringed with black; head shiny black.
Pupa:
10-12 mm long; shiny blackish brown; cremaster with
twelve hooks.
842
843
842
Larva of scarlet tiger moth (
Callimorpha dominula
).
843
Scarlet tiger moth (
Callimorpha dominula
).
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