Page 499 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Geometridae
DISTRIBUTION Europe, North Africa, and through central Asia to
southern Siberia
HABITAT Scrub, waste ground, verges, parks, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Mallow (Malva sylvestris) and related species, such as
Althaea o cinalis and Bristly Hollyhock (Alcea setosa)
NOTE Caterpillar that raises its body to resemble a twig
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but locally rare

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ –1 ⁄ in (36–40 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ in (40 mm)
LARENTIA CLAVARIA
MALLOW 497

(HAWORTH, 1809)

Eggs laid on the food plants by the night- ying female Mallow
moths overwinter, and the larvae hatch the following spring.
When not feeding, the caterpillar rests on the upper surface

of leaves and holds on rmly with its terminal claspers, raising
the rest of the body to give the appearance of a green twig. This
makes the larva very di cult to spot and reduces predation.

The caterpillars are active from April to July, moving from their

host plant to the ground to pupate. The night- ying moths are
on the wing from August to November.

Like other members of the Geometridae, the caterpillars
are loopers. Their prolegs are found toward the end of the
abdomen, giving the caterpillars their characteristic looping
movement. There are several subspecies across the range. The
dependence of Larentia clavaria on a limited range of food plants
has contributed to a decline in its numbers, and the moth is now
classed as rare in some parts of its range.

The Mallow caterpillar is long, slender, and
green in color. There are faint bands of pale
yellow and green along its length and tiny, white
spots. It is covered in short, widely spaced hairs.
Actual size