Page 482 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Geometridae
DISTRIBUTION Europe, east into Siberia
DIS
TRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT
HABIT A T Lowland woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens
HABITAT
HOS
HOST PLANTS S Varied, including Ribes spp., Prunus spp., and Crataegus spp.
T PLANT
HOST PLANTS
NO
NOTE
TE
NOTE Distinctive caterpillar that has a black-and-white colored body
CONSERVATION STATUS
TUS
A
T
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but quite common
CONSERV
A
TION S
ADULT WINGSPAN
1⅜–1⅞ in (35–48 mm)

CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ in (30 mm)
ABRAXAS GROSSULARIATA
MAGPIE
480
LINNAEUS, 1758
Magpie caterpillars hatch from eggs laid in late summer on the
underside of leaves of the host plant. The larvae quickly seek
a place to overwinter—for example, within rolled-up leaves
or cracks in walls, and under bark. They emerge in spring to
Actual size
feed on young leaves. Pupation takes place in late spring and

early summer, with the caterpillars spinning a imsy cocoon,
either on or near the food plant. The adults eclose and y in

July and August.

The caterpillar is a so-called looper, named for the distinctive
method of moving in a looping fashion. Its conspicuous bright
colors probably act as a deterrent to predators. Long considered
a pest species for its defoliation of soft-fruit bushes and nut trees,
its numbers have declined in recent years, possibly due to the

use of pesticides. The Magpie adult is a day- ying carpet moth
and—with its bright black-and-white wings— is often mistaken
for a butter y.

The Magpie caterpillar has a black head and
white body, with a dorsal row of large, black spots
along the length of the body, several lateral rows
of small, black spots, and a lateral, orange strip.
The colorings are variable, with some caterpillars
completely black or white.