Page 352 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Lasiocampidae
DISTRIBUTION Europe, Asia Minor, Russia, China, and Japan
HABITAT Woodlands, orchards, and forests at low and high elevations
up to 9,850 ft (3,000 m)
HOST PLANTS Plum (Prunus spp.), pear (Pyrus spp.), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.),
willow (Salix spp.), elm (Ulmus spp.), and oak (Quercus spp.)
NOTE Extremely cryptic caterpillar that is sometimes found on fruit trees
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ –2⅜ in (30–60 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1¾–2⅛ in (45–55 mm)
ODONESTIS PRUNI
PLUM LAPPET
350
(LINNAEUS, 1758)

Plum Lappet caterpillars hatch in late summer or early fall
from spherical white eggs, laid singly or in small groups on the

leaves of host plants. The larvae develop slowly through ve
instars and overwinter as mid-instars, completing development
the following spring. In most areas there are two generations,
although there may only be one in northern ranges. The
caterpillars are usually solitary, gaining protection from
remarkable camouflage coloring that renders them hard to
spot on twigs and branches. When mature, they spin a dense
silken cocoon, from which the adult moth emerges within two
to three weeks.

The Odonestis pruni caterpillar has been reported as an economic
pest of fruit trees in parts of Europe, particularly on cherries

and plums, as re ected in the rst part of the common name.

The second part of the name was inspired by the aps covering
the caterpillar’s prolegs, like a fold, or “lappet,” in a garment.

The Plum Lappet caterpillar is light to
dark brown with intricate thin, wavy, yellow
lines, especially dorsally. On each of the six
middle segments there is, posteriorly, a pair
of indistinct white triangles. Segment three
has a red transverse line bordered by yellow
orange and a pair of white patches posteriorly.
The body is covered with ne white setae,
giving a slightly fuzzy appearance.
Actual size