Page 546 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Erebidae
DISTRIBUTION North Africa, Mediterranean Europe, Turkey, southern Russia,
and central Asia
HABITAT Warm oak forests
HOST PLANTS Oak (Quercus spp.)
NOTE Twiglike caterpillar that is well hidden on oak trees
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but classed as rare in some parts of its range

ADULT WINGSPAN
2 ⁄ –3⅝ in (65–92 mm)

CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2–2¾ in (50–70 mm)
CATOCALA DILECTA
CATOCALA DILECTA
544
(HÜBNER, 1808)

The caterpillars of the Catocala dilecta moth hatch in late
spring from eggs that overwinter in the bark crevices of the
host trees where they were laid. The hatching coincides with
the opening of the leaves, and the larvae are then active from
April to June. Their bark-like cryptic coloration provides the
perfect camou age, so they are di cult to spot when resting on

twigs and branches. The caterpillars pupate in the tree canopy,
spinning their wispy, yellow cocoon between leaves.
The adult moths are on the wing from late June through
September, with a single generation each year. Reliance on a
single host plant means numbers of this species are declining,
a situation exacerbated by the clearance of oak forest, especially
in the Mediterranean countries, and the use of pesticides against
forest pests, which usually wipes out all moth and butterfly
species and not just the target species.

Actual size The Catocala dilecta caterpillar has a light
brown body with many small, dark brown dots.
Rows of reddish-brown tubercles run the length
of the abdomen, each bearing a short, dark hair.
There is a fringe of bristles on both sides of the
thorax and abdomen. The head is a mottled
brown, with hairs that are of a similar color
to the body.