Page 301 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Limacodidae
DISTRIBUTION From southern United Kingdom, northern Spain, and southern
Scandinavia east to Asia Minor and the Caucasus
HABITAT Forests, smaller woodlands, and parklands
HOST PLANTS Oak (Quercus spp.), hornbeam (Carpinus spp.), and European
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
NOTE Caterpillar whose species name derives from the Limax
slug genus
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but widespread throughout most of its range

ADULT WINGSPAN

⁄ –1¼ in (24–32 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
½–⅝ in (13–16 mm)
APODA LIMACODES
FESTOON 299

(HUFNAGEL, 1766)

The Festoon caterpillar lives among tree foliage on which it
feeds and can be found from July to October. The flattened
oval, yellowish eggs are laid singly or in small groups on the
underside of a leaf and hatch after two weeks. The caterpillar

is well camou aged and hard to nd, often living high in the
tree and clinging on very tightly. Pupation occurs in a tough,
brownish oval cocoon (with a circular escape hatch), spun on the
upper side of a leaf, which falls to the ground in fall.

The rusty brown, rather broad-winged adults y in June and
July. Limacodids are mainly tropical moths. Their caterpillars
are highly varied, and some are remarkable, brightly colored
creatures with poisonous, protective, stinging barbs and strange
cactus-like growths and spines, or star sh-like “arms.” Other

limacodid larvae are smooth and, like the Festoon, may resemble

those of lycaenid butter ies. However, lycaenid caterpillars are

covered in ne, very short hairs and the head extends out of the
hood when feeding.

The Festoon caterpillar is bright green and Actual size
sluglike. The retractile head is concealed under a
mainly yellowish hood, and two yellowish ridges
extend along the back. The true legs are reduced,
and the prolegs are replaced by small suckers;
a silky liquid produced by the larva further aids
adhesion. Younger larvae have numerous warts,
each bearing a long spine.