Page 542 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Erebidae
DISTRIBUTION Europe and across northern and central Asia to Japan
HABITAT Deciduous and mixed forests
HOST PLANTS Various trees, including beech (Fagus spp.) and birch (Betula spp.)
NOTE Caterpillar that uses sudden movement and falling to
avoid predation
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN

1⅜–1¾ in (35–45 mm)

CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2 in (50 mm)
ARCTORNIS L-NIGRUM
BLACK V
540
(MÜLLER, 1764)

Black V caterpillars hatch from eggs laid by the female moth
in small groups on the surface of leaves of the host trees, and
feed there. When not feeding, the larvae rest on the leaves
and, if disturbed, they flick to one side and sometimes fall
deliberately in an e ort to avoid predation. The second or third

instar caterpillars move to the ground, where they spend the
winter in the leaf litter, sometimes crawling into rolled-up leaves.

The larvae emerge in spring and resume feeding to complete
their growth.They then pupate in a cocoon, which they spin
among leaves. There is usually one generation, but occasionally
The Black V caterpillar has a black head and a partial second generation appears in late summer and early
chestnut-brown body, covered with long hairs in fall. The moths, which y from May to July, have a prominent

brown, black, and creamy white. The hairs on the
anterior and posterior segments are extra long. V-shaped mark on their forewings—hence their common name.
There are pale white dorsal stripes.
The species is widely distributed across Asia, where there are
several subspecies.

Actual size