Page 484 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Geometridae
DISTRIBUTION Across Europe, east to the Urals
HABITAT Woodlands, heaths, parks, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Deciduous trees, including alder (Alnus spp.), beech (Fagus spp.),
and oak (Quercus spp.)

NOTE Well-camou aged caterpillar that feeds on deciduous leaves
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but quite common

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ –1¼ in (27–32 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ in (30 mm)
AGRIOPIS MARGINARIA
DOTTED BORDER
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(FABRICIUS, 1777)

Dotted Border caterpillars hatch from small, oval, green eggs
laid on the tree trunks of their host species. Their defense is
their realistically twiglike appearance. They are present from

April to June but largely unseen as they remain camou aged in
the tree canopy, where they feed mostly on young leaves. In the
nal instar, when fully fed, the larvae descend to the ground to

pupate and overwinter under the soil as a pupa. There is a single
generation, with adults eclosing early the following year, from
February to April, although occasionally as early as January
and as late as May.

Agriopis marginaria males are night- ying and attracted to light.
Females, however, like those of the closely related species Scarce
Umber (A. aurantiaria), are ightless, with only tiny vestigial

wings, and are found resting on tree trunks, where they lay
their eggs. The young caterpillars are easily confused with
A. aurantiaria larvae, which feed on the same host trees. The
Dotted Border is common across much of its range, occurring
in a wide range of habitats, due to the widespread distribution
of the host plants.

The Dotted Border caterpillar has a long,
slender body typical of the Geometridae.
Actual size
The body is mostly brown with dark, blackish,
cross-shaped dorsal and lateral markings
and creamy-white patches. The white patches
are most pronounced on the middle segments.
The head, legs, and prolegs are orange brown.