Page 338 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Drepanidae
DISTRIBUTION From western Europe and North Africa (Algeria) across
temperate Asia, east to Japan, and south to Borneo and Sumatra
HABITAT Forests, scrub, hedgerows, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Dewberry (Rubus caesius),
and Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
NOTE Seldom seen caterpillar of a familiar moth
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common throughout most of its range

ADULT WINGSPAN

1⅜–1¾ in (35–44 mm)

CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1⅛–1
⁄ in (28–33 mm)
THYATIRA BATIS
PEACH BLOSSOM
336
(LINNAEUS, 1758)

Peach Blossom caterpillars hatch from eggs laid either singly
or in small groups on the leaves of its host plant. When young,
the larva resembles a bird dropping and, so disguised, lives
on the upper side of the leaves. When the caterpillar is larger,
Actual size

the markings are di erent and it can look more like a piece of
dead leaf. At this point, the larva hides among leaf litter by
day and only ascends the food plant at night, feeding from
the leaf edge. It sometimes rests with the hind end raised.
Pupation occurs in the ground in a silken cocoon, and this is the
overwintering stage.
The Peach Blossom caterpillar is partly whitish
at the front end when small, becoming dark to The species is named for the petal-like markings of the adults,
pale brown or greenish as it develops. The head
is notched with two double, raised bumps behind which fly in one or two broods from April to September,
it, the second pair being larger. It has ve ridged
peaks along the back, the darker slopes of which depending on climate. It is one of a group of moths known
create a pale diamond pattern, and one ridge at as lutestrings for the lines on their forewings; their subfamily,
the hind end.

Thyatirinae, is sometimes classi ed as a distinct family. Unlike
that of the hook-tips, the hind end of these caterpillars is not
tapered, or usually raised, and has a pair of normal prolegs.
Many species live between spun leaves.