Page 531 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Notodontidae
DISTRIBUTION Europe and across Asia to Russian Far East, China, and Japan
HABITAT Forests, hedgerows, scrublands, parks, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Many trees and shrubs, including oak (Quercus spp.), Hornbeam
(Carpinus betulus), lime (Tilia spp.), hazel (Corylus spp.), hawthorn
(Crataegus spp.), and rose (Rosa spp.)
NOTE Caterpillar that throws its head backward when alarmed
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ –2 in (37–50 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ –1 ⁄ in (34–36 mm)
PTILODON CAPUCINA
COXCOMB PROMINENT 529

(LINNAEUS, 1758)

Coxcomb Prominent caterpillars hatch from whitish,
hemispherical eggs laid in small groups on the leaves of their
host plant. They can be found feeding, usually singly, in two
generations from June to October, on tall trees as well as
small bushes. When fully developed, the larvae descend to the
ground to form the pupa on or under the surface in a cocoon that
incorporates soil and debris. This stage overwinters.

Notodontid caterpillars are highly varied in shape. When
threatened, some raise the front and hind ends as a warning,
and some have elaborate appendages that they raise and wave
around. In this situation, the Coxcomb Prominent throws its
head right back toward the red warts on the raised hind end, with
the true legs held together, making it look spiky and less like a
caterpillar. Other caterpillars, such as the Sprawler (Asteroscopus
sphinx), a noctuid, can similarly throw back the head but without
raising the hind end.

The Coxcomb Prominent caterpillar is green
with raised black spots when young, its head
black or green with a pair of black spots. Later
it becomes bright green, blue green with a white
bloom on the back, or pinkish with a green tinge.
The mature caterpillar has red legs, a yellow,
red-edged stripe along the sides, and two red,
Actual size wartlike projections on the hind protuberance.