Page 335 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Drepanidae
DISTRIBUTION Across Europe, east to the Urals and Asia Minor
HABITAT Scrub, woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Mainly hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) and Blackthorn (Prunus
spinosa); also plum (Prunus spp.) and other woody Rosaceae,
including apple (Malus spp.), Bramble (Rubus fruticosus),
and Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
NOTE Solitary caterpillar that mimics a shriveled leaf
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common throughout most of its range

ADULT WINGSPAN
⁄ –1 ⁄ in (17–27 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
⁄ – ⁄ in (15–18 mm)
CILIX GLAUCATA
CHINESE CHARACTER 333

(SCOPOLI, 1763)

The Chinese Character caterpillar can be found from May
to October in a wide variety of habitats where its food plants
occur. The roughly oval eggs are laid singly on the leaves,
where the solitary caterpillars will then feed openly and
rest with their spiky tail end raised. They pupate in a strong,
brown, silken cocoon spun among the leaves or in a bark Actual size
crevice on the food plant. Like that of other drepanine moths,
the pupa is covered in a pale, waxy bloom. Pupae of the later
broods overwinter.

Cilix glaucata is the most widespread of the four Cilix species
recognized in Europe and the Middle East. The adults, which
resemble the fecal sac of a small juvenile bird when at rest, The Chinese Character caterpillar is dark
fly in two or three broods from April to September and are brown to tawny brown, with a paler saddle
mark along the back, and resembles a piece
named for the elaborate silver marking in the center of the of shriveled leaf. The head is deeply divided,
forewing. The species is closely related to hook-tip moths and the swollen, peaked frontal segments have
two pairs of dorsal tubercles. The raised hind
(so-called for the shape of their forewings), whose caterpillars end tapers to a short, eshy spike with white
markings beside it.
share a similar, characteristic form, resembling a shriveled piece
of leaf or a bird dropping.