Page 557 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Erebidae
DISTRIBUTION Across Europe into Russia,the Middle East as far as
Turkmenistan and Iran
HABITAT Evergreen riparian forests, scrub, hedgerows, wastelands,
parks, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Various, including borage (Borago spp.), dandelion
(Taraxacum spp.), Hemp (Cannabis sativa), agrimony
(Eupatorium spp.), and nettle (Urtica spp.)
NOTE Hairy caterpillar that feeds on a range of food plants
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but a protected species in the European Union

ADULT WINGSPAN
2 ⁄ –2 ⁄ in (52–65 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ –2 in (40–50 mm)
EUPLAGIA QUADRIPUNCTARIA
JERSEY TIGER 555

(PODA, 1761)

The female Jersey Tiger moth lays her smooth, round eggs
on the underside of leaves. When the young caterpillars hatch,
they overwinter on their host plant and become active again
in spring. The mature larvae crawl to the ground to pupate in
a cocoon among the leaf litter, and the resulting pupae are
reddish brown in color.

The Jersey Tiger, as strikingly hued and patterned as its big
cat namesake, flies during the day and night. The moths are
on the wing from July to September, and there is a single

generation. A migratory species, Euplagia quadripunctaria ies
long distances during the summer months and, due to warming
conditions, is expanding its range north. The subspecies
E. quadripunctaria rhodensensis can be found in large numbers
in the Valley of Butterflies on the Greek island of Rhodes.
Here, encouraged by a perfect microclimate, clouds of brightly
colored moths take to the air in a spectacular display.

The Jersey Tiger caterpillar is black with a wide,
yellow-orange dorsal stripe and lateral row of
cream spots. A ring of orange-brown tufts of hair
is found on each segment. The head is black.

Actual size