Page 249 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
TRIBUTION
DIS
DISTRIBUTION Europe, across Asia to China and Japan
DISTRIBUTION
HABIT
HABITAT T Deciduous forests and forest edges near streams
HABITAT
A
HOST PLANTS
HOS T PLANT S Aspen (Populus tremula) and Black Poplar (Populus nigra)
HOST PLANTS

TE
NOTE Well-camou aged caterpillar that feeds on young leaves
NOTE
NO
CONSERV A TION S T A TUS Not evaluated, but threatened in some parts of its range
CONSERVATION STATUS
CONSERVATION STATUS
ADULT WINGSPAN
2 ⁄ –3⅛ in (65–80 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ in (30 mm)
LIMENITIS POPULI
POPLAR ADMIRAL 247
(LINNAEUS, 1758)

Female Poplar Admirals can be seen gliding around treetops
before they lay their large eggs singly on leaves. After seven
days, the caterpillars hatch and feed on leaf buds and young
leaves. The larvae have a particular feeding pattern, consuming
the leaf from its tip and avoiding the midrib on which they rest.
By silking together frass pellets, the caterpillars may extend the
midrib, a habit that is thought to deter ants and other predators.
While still quite young, the larvae spin a loose cocoon within
a rolled leaf in which they spend winter, emerging in spring to
complete their growth and pupate on a leaf, webbing it so that
the edges curl and protect the chrysalis.

The large and distinctive Limenitis populi butter ies eclose and
are on the wing from May to August, the actual months varying
across the range. Despite being widespread, the species is not
very common, the main reason being the loss of its forest habitat
as poplar trees now have little commercial value. There are a

number of subspecies, some di ering slightly in appearance.

The Poplar Admiral caterpillar has a brown
head and predominantly green body, with some
areas of brown and even black. There are four
protuberances behind the head, the rst two
being longer, brown-tipped, and covered in short Actual size
spines. There are also two short horns at the end
of the abdomen. The body is covered in many
white, raised dots, some with hairs.