Page 601 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Noctuidae
DISTRIBUTION Europe, from east of the Pyrenees and northern Italy, the
British Isles, and southern Scandinavia, east to the southern Urals,
the Caspian Sea, and western Russia
HABITAT Woodlands, moorlands, heathlands, scrub, hedgerows, parklands,
and gardens
HOST PLANTS Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa),
plum (Prunus spp.), apple (Malus spp.), and, in northern
British Isles, Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
NOTE Twiggy caterpillar found on plants in the rose family
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN

1⅜–2 in (35–50 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1¾–2 in (45–50 mm)
ALLOPHYES OXYACANTHAE
GREEN-BRINDLED CRESCENT 599

(LINNAEUS, 1758)

The Green-brindled Crescent caterpillar hatches from a ribbed,
whitish egg laid on a twig or branch; the eggs overwinter. The
caterpillar feeds from April to June, resting along a twig, well

camou aged by its twiglike appearance. When fully fed, it forms
a glossy brown pupa in a strong cocoon in the ground. The
adults emerge in the fall, in one annual generation. Allophyes
oxyacanthae is one of several species that look very similar to
one another in all life stages. The others, A. cretica, A. asiatica,
A. alfaroi, and A. corsica, are restricted to warm, dry, scrubby
habitats around the Mediterranean, whereas A. oxyacanthae
occurs more widely and in cooler, damper climates.

The caterpillar of the closely related Double-spot Brocade
(Meganephria bimaculosa) is similar but much browner. The
Green-brindled Crescent caterpillar also bears a general
resemblance to certain Catocala species (Erebidae), although
they have a side-fringe of hairs, mostly grow larger, and rarely
feed on plants of the Rosaceae family.

The Green-brindled Crescent caterpillar is Actual size
rather cylindrical, slightly warty, and twiglike,
with a large, mottled brown head. The body
is light to dark gray brown, with irregular, ne,
subdued brown stripes, and is often heavily
variegated with greenish white in habitats
with abundant lichen growth. There is an
orange-brown or whitish, open, dark-edged
V on the fourth segment and a double-pointed
hump at the tail end.