Page 491 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Geometridae
Across Europe to western Siberia
Across Europe to western Siberia
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION
DIS TRIBUTION Acr oss Eur ope to w ester n Sib eria
s
, park
Forests, woods, parks, and gardens
, w
ts
oods
ns
nd garde
ores
, a
HABITAT
HABIT A T F Forests, woods, parks, and gardens
HABITAT
uous tree
, in
ubs
c
birch (
luding
r
Various deciduous trees and shrubs, including birch (Betula spp.),
V
us decid
s and sh
ario
HOS T PLANT S Various deciduous trees and shrubs, including birch (
HOST PLANTS
HOST PLANTS
uck
uck
uck
uck
e
r
r
uck
ic
e
le (
le (
le (
L
le (
on
ic
on
le (
L
honeys
honeys
honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), Prunus spp., and
honeys
honeysuckle (Lonicera a a
honeys
honeys
spp
ix
ix
al
S
al
al
ix
al
.
.
spp
ix
ix
al
S
w (
willow (Salix spp.) ) )
lo
willow (Salix spp.)
wil
S
S
S
em
ent
v
ping mo
a c
that has
las
sic loo
r
pillar
T
Twiglike caterpillar that has a classic looping movement
e cate
wig
lik
TE
NOTE
NO
NOTE Twiglike caterpillar that has a classic looping movement
Not evaluated, but a common species
Not evaluated, but a common species
CONSERVATION STATUS Not e valuated, but a co mmon spe cies
A
TION S
CONSERV
TUS
A
CONSERVATION STATUS
T
ADULT WINGSPAN

1⅜–1⅝ in (35–41 mm)

CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ –1¾ in (40–45 mm)
CROCALLIS ELINGUARIA
SCALLOPED OAK 489
(LINNAEUS, 1758)
Scalloped Oak caterpillars hatch from cube-shaped eggs laid in
batches. Having found a suitable leaf, the adult female lays the
eggs in a row so that they are touching, lined up along the leaf
edge. The eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring; the
caterpillars are then seen from April to July, feeding on a variety The Scalloped Oak caterpillar has an elongated,
of deciduous trees and shrubs. They eat mostly leaves but are slender body. The colors are variable, ranging
from gray to dark brown. The pattern of patches,
known to be omnivorous as they will attack and eat smaller diamonds, stripes, and longitudinal lines,
caterpillars of the same species. The pupa is red brown. together with small tubercles, creates the perfect
impression of a twig. The head is brown, and
there are sparse hairs over the body.
Crocallis elinguaria moths, all of a single generation, are on the
wing at night during the months of July and August and are
attracted to light. During the day, they rest on tree trunks and
fences. The caterpillar is easily confused with close relatives
that live in the same habitat, including the brown form of
the Scalloped Hazel (Odontoponera bidentate) and the Dusky
Scalloped Oak (Crocallis dardoinaria).
Actual size