Page 618 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Noctuidae
DISTRIBUTION Europe, from southern United Kingdom and Denmark to western
Russia, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus; North Africa across to the
Middle East, Iraq, and Iran, and Afghanistan to the Himalayas
HABITAT Warm, dry, disturbed open ground, including cultivated land,
quarries, verges, and embankments
HOST PLANTS Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola), Great Lettuce (Lactuca virosa),
Wall Lettuce (Lactuca muralis), and cultivated lettuce (Lactuca
sativa)

NOTE Caterpillar that eats only owers and lettuce seed heads
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN

1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm)

CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ –1⅜ in (30–35 mm)

HECATERA DYSODEA
SMALL RANUNCULUS
616
([DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER], 1775)

The Small Ranunculus caterpillar hatches from a brownish egg

laid singly or in small groups on a ower bud. The caterpillar
feeds on the owers and unripe seed heads. When small, it rests

openly on the in orescence but, when larger, may hide lower
down during the day. The caterpillar is found from June and July
to early fall, in one or two generations depending on climate.
The pupa is formed in a chamber in the ground and overwinters,
with the moths ying from June to August.

Due to their pale color, which provides excellent camou age,
Small Ranunculus caterpillars are di cult to detect when they

rest outstretched along the stems of the food plant. They can
be numerous on an individual plant and will feed on stems and
lower leaves if the normal food is exhausted. Eggs are laid on
cultivated lettuces only if the plants have been allowed to ower,

but the caterpillars could be a pest where lettuces are being
grown as a seed crop.

The Small Ranunculus caterpillar is pale
green, brownish green, or pale brown above
and green on the sides, often with a whitish
stripe. There may be a double, ne, dark pencil
line along the back, other dark lines, and pairs
of dark dots on each segment, but often the
markings other than the black spiracles are faint.
Actual size