Page 530 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Notodontidae
DISTRIBUTION Western Europe to the Urals, Turkey, and the Caucasus; also
western and southern Siberia (east to Lake Baikal), northwestern
Mongolia, and northwest China
HABITAT Many habitats, including forests, wooded or scrubby wetland
margins, heathland, hedgerows, parks, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Willow (Salix spp.) and poplar (Populus spp.)
NOTE Common and rather distinctive green, sleek-looking caterpillar
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but very common

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ –2⅛ in (43–55 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1½–1 ⁄ in (38–40 mm)
PTEROSTOMA PALPINA
PALE PROMINENT
528
(CLERCK, 1759)

The Pale Prominent caterpillar hatches from a hemispherical,
light green egg; the female moth lays her eggs in small groups
on the underside of a leaf. The larvae can be found from June
to September in two broods. They live and feed openly among
the foliage of the tree or bush, where they are well camou aged.

When fully developed, the caterpillars descend to the ground,
where the dark brown, shiny pupa is formed in a cocoon on or
slightly under the surface, near the base of the tree, covered with
soil and debris.

This is a very common species, with distinctive markings.
Although green with white stripes is a popular livery among
moth caterpillars, few if any species living on willow and poplar
(at least in the Western Palearctic) possess the exact same
combination of features as the Pale Prominent. The brownish
adults y in two broods, from April to September.

The Pale Prominent caterpillar is green when
young with tiny, black spots; in later stages it
is blue green with a white bloom on the back
or bright green. There are four white lines
along the back, a yellow or yellowish-white
line along the sides, and ne, dark edging
above. The body tapers at both ends, and
the head is set at a low angle. Actual size