Page 548 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Erebidae
DISTRIBUTION Western Europe (including southern England, where it has
recently recolonized) to the Middle East, and across Asia to
Russian Far East and Japan
HABITAT Usually woodlands and well-wooded areas
HOST PLANTS Mainly Aspen (Populus tremula) and other poplars (Populus spp.);
also ash (Fraxinus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), willow (Salix spp.),
European Beech (Fagus sylvatica), and other trees
NOTE Cryptic caterpillar that appears to move some distance
before feeding
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common within most of its range

ADULT WINGSPAN
3½–4⅜ in (90–112 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2 ⁄ –3 in (65–75 mm)
CATOCALA FRAXINI
CLIFDEN NONPAREIL
546
(LINNAEUS, 1758)

The Clifden Nonpareil caterpillar hatches from an egg that is
grayish and domed with vertical ridges. The egg overwinters
on a branch or trunk, and the caterpillar hatches in May or June.
Observed in captivity, at rst the larva crawls constantly for

many hours before settling to feed. Later, it feeds at night and
rests along a branch, like other Catocala caterpillars, stretched
out with the legs often splayed sideways. The caterpillar is fully
grown in July and forms a pupa on the food plant, in a cocoon,
often between leaves drawn together.

The behavior of the young caterpillar suggests that it normally
lives high in the tree and must move a long way before feeding.
When larger, it is sluggish when handled. The caterpillar is
rarely seen in the wild; its shape, color, and fringe of lateral
hairs make it highly cryptic. The adults, with blue-and-black
hindwings, y from August to October in a single generation.

They regularly migrate outside the breeding range. The species’
alternative common name is Blue Underwing.

The Clifden Nonpareil caterpillar is rather
smooth and attened, with a fringe of short
hairs low down along each side. It is colored
blue gray or gray brown and covered in tiny,
gray and blackish spots that form a dark band
on the eighth and ninth segments. It has a low
hump on the eighth segment and on the
eleventh segment, which also has a narrow,
angled, black band.
Actual size