Page 597 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Noctuidae
DISTRIBUTION Europe, excluding the far north of Scandinavia; Asia Minor,
the Caucasus, Syria, northern Iran, and western Russia
HABITAT Woodlands, hedgerows, and poplars growing in open country
HOST PLANTS Poplar (Populus spp.), including Aspen (P. tremula) and
Black Poplar (P. nigra); occasionally willow (Salix spp.)
NOTE Species named for the large head of its caterpillar
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
1½–1¾ in (38–44 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH

1¼–1⅜ in (32–35 mm)
ACRONICTA MEGACEPHALA
POPLAR GREY 595
([DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER], 1775)

The Poplar Grey caterpillar hatches from a attened, rounded,

partly translucent egg laid singly on the leaves. It feeds openly
on the leaves, resting on or under a leaf, with the front end curled
around almost facing the tail end in a characteristic posture that
resembles a bird dropping. The caterpillars can be found in one
or two generations from June to September. The pupa is formed
in a strong cocoon on the tree under loose bark, in a crevice or
rotten wood, or in the ground, and this stage overwinters.

With its large head and long, shaggy fringe of whitish hairs,
the Poplar Grey caterpillar is unlikely to be confused with any

other larva feeding on poplars and willows. The speci c name
of the Poplar Grey, megacephala, is derived from the ancient
Greek words megas, meaning “large” or “mighty,” and cephala,
meaning “head.”

The Poplar Grey caterpillar has a slightly Actual size
attened body and is brown, gray, or greenish,
with a large, boldly striped head. Tufts of long,
whitish hairs extend out all around the sides
and from the head. The back has sparse, shorter,
blackish hairs, dark wavy bands, small, brown
warts, a ne peppering of white dots, and a
large, creamy-white, mask-like blotch on the
tenth segment.