Page 496 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Geometridae
n A
sia to R
u
rther
Eur
ope and no
Europe and northern Asia to Russian Far East, parts of Canada
arts of
ada
East, p
ssian F
Can
ar
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION Europe and northern Asia to Russian Far East, parts of Canada
DIS
TRIBUTION
and n orther n Un ited Stat es
and northern United States
and northern United States
Moorlands, sandy heaths, and woodlands
Moorlands, sandy heaths, and woodlands
HABITAT
HABIT A T Moorl ands , sand y heaths , and w oo dl ands
HABITAT
Various, including bilberry (
Various, including bilberry (Vaccinium spp.), birch (Betula spp.),
HOST PLANTS
HOST PLANTS
HOS T PLANT S V ario us , inc luding bi lberr y (
Heather (Calluna vulgaris), and willow (Salix spp.)
Heather (Calluna vulgaris
Heathe r ( C al lu n a v u lg a ri s
pilla
r
r that is well ca

mou
e cate
Slen
Slender, twiglike caterpillar that is well camou aged
der
ik
, twigl
NOTE
TE
NOTE Slender, twiglike caterpillar that is well camou agedaged
NO
valuated,
although
Not evaluated, although becoming rare in some regions
Not e
becomi
n some r
egions
ng r
are i
CONSERVATION STATUS
CONSERV A TION S T A TUS Not evaluated, although becoming rare in some regions
CONSERVATION STATUS
ADULT WINGSPAN

1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 in (25 mm)
EULITHIS TESTATA
CHEVRON
494
(LINNAEUS, 1761)
The female Chevron moth lays her creamy-white to pale
brown eggs in a line along the edge of a leaf on the host plant.
The eggs overwinter, and the caterpillars hatch the following

spring, their twiglike appearance providing excellent camou age
as they develop and some protection against predation. Like all
members of the Geometridae family, the larvae move with a
typical looping action. They pupate on the host plant, spinning
a cocoon between the leaves.
The widely distributed nocturnal Chevron is on the wing in
summer, from July to August, and is attracted to light. There is
usually a single generation, but in some parts of Europe there
are two generations. The species name testata refers to the base
color of the moth’s wing, after the Latin testa, which means
“baked stone,” while the common name refers to the distinctive
V-shaped, white bar on the forewings. Variations in the base

color occur across the moth’s range, with di erent shades of
orangey brown and yellow brown.
Actual size
The Chevron caterpillar has a slender, elongated
shape typical of its family. The shades of yellow,
pale brown, and olive green give the caterpillar
the appearance of a twig. There are a number of
pale, yellow-brown lines running the length of the
body, and the spiracles are brown.