Page 608 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Noctuidae
DISTRIBUTION Western and central Europe, Iceland, Scandinavia, east across
Russia and Siberia to Sakhalin Island and Magadan; introduced in
Newfoundland (northeastern Canada)
HABITAT Open grasslands, particularly in acid uplands and in cool climates;
also in warmer lowlands on well-drained soils
HOST PLANTS Grasses, particularly hard-bladed species such as Mat-grass
(Nardus stricta), Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea), and
Sheep’s-fescue (Festuca ovina); also sedge (Cyperaceae)
NOTE Usually inconspicuous caterpillar that can sometimes
occur in “armies”
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
⁄ –1 ⁄ in (24–39 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH

1 ⁄ –1⅜ in (30–35 mm)
CERAPTERYX GRAMINIS
ANTLER MOTH
606
(LINNAEUS, 1758)

The Antler Moth caterpillar hatches in March or April and
develops, feeding mainly at night, until June. At later instars,
when larger, it hides deep in the grass by day. Although the

larvae are di cult to detect, small birds such as the Whinchat
(Saxicola rubetra) spot and often take them. When fully fed, the
caterpillar forms a pupa in a chamber in the ground among grass
roots. There is one generation annually, and the distinctively
marked, brown-and-cream adults y from July to September by

day and by night. The tough, rounded, grayish eggs are laid as

the female ies low over grassland, and this stage overwinters.

Caterpillar numbers sometimes build up to high levels, and the
larvae may defoliate large areas of hillside, feeding by day and
night in “armies.” Later instars of the closely related Feathered
Gothic (Tholera decimalis) and Hedge Rustic (T. cespitis) look
very similar and have very similar habits.

The Antler Moth caterpillar is gray brown,
smooth, and rather shiny and tapers toward the
tail end. It has three well-separated, whitish or
very light brown stripes along the back, a more
di use, pale stripe laterally, and a broad, pale
stripe low down on the sides. The head is brown
and the spiracles are black.
Actual size