Page 607 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Noctuidae
DISTRIBUTION From northern Spain through most of Europe (excluding extreme
south), north to Iceland and Scandinavia, and across Russia and
Siberia to Russian Far East
HABITAT Cool, open habitats, such as high moorlands and mature coastal
dunes; lesser numbers in warmer, open, scrubby habitats
HOST PLANTS Wide range, including Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Broom
(Cytisus scoparius), Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), Bramble
(Rubus fruticosus), willow (Salix spp.), Sea Buckthorn
(Hippophae rhamnoides), and Colt’s-foot (Tussilago farfara)
NOTE Pretty, striped caterpillar that is easily found in the daytime
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
1¼–1⅝ in (32–42 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ –1¾ in (40–45 mm)
CERAMICA PISI
BROOM MOTH 605

(LINNAEUS, 1758)

Broom Moth caterpillars hatch from yellowish-gray eggs laid in
batches on the food plant. The larvae are inconspicuous when
small but when larger are often seen resting or feeding openly

by day, although they are more active at night. At the nal instar,
they form a pupa in a fragile cocoon in the ground, and the pupa
overwinters. The caterpillars can be found from July into the

fall; just one generation is produced annually. The adults y
from June to August.

The Broom Moth caterpillar can occur in almost any scrubby,
relatively undisturbed habitat. It is tolerant of cold and is most
abundant in northern areas, particularly on acid moorland,
whereas it may be uncommon in lowland gardens. With its set
of four bright yellow stripes, the Ceramica pisi larva is quite
distinctive and can be confused with few other caterpillars.
Middle instars of the Sword-grass caterpillar (Xylena exsoleta)
are also green with yellow stripes, but their stripes are narrower,
and, unlike C. pisi, their back and sides have the same color. The Broom Moth caterpillar is smooth and
slightly tapered at both ends. It is green or brown,
always with four bold, bright yellow stripes,
edged with white and nely edged with black,
two on each side. The back is either plain dark
brown or green, and the sides are usually paler
and nely mottled with light green or brown.

Actual size