Page 627 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Noctuidae
DISTRIBUTION From northern Spain across most of Europe (excluding northern
Scandinavia), Asia Minor, parts of the Middle East, and east across
Asia to Russian Far East, Japan, and China
HABITAT Shaded and more open habitats—woodlands, scrub, hedgerows,
and gardens
HOST PLANTS Many herbaceous and woody plants, including dock (Rumex spp.),
Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), plantain (Plantago spp.), elder
(Sambucus spp.), Wild Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), and dogwood
(Cornus spp.)
NOTE Distinctive caterpillar that has chevrons and a hump
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN

1⅜–2 in (35–50 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1⅝–1¾ in (42–45 mm)
MELANCHRA PERSICARIAE
DOT MOTH 625

(LINNAEUS, 1761)

Dot Moth caterpillars hatch from pinkish-brown eggs laid
singly or in batches on the food plant. The larvae feed on the
foliage, generally resting low down on the food plant when
larger, but may be active by day as well as at night. They develop
slowly from July into the fall and then form a pupa in a cocoon
in the ground, which overwinters. There is one generation
a year. The adults, whose dark brown forewings feature a
prominent white mark that gives the species its common
name, y in June and July.

The caterpillar’s distinctive markings make it fairly unmistakable.
However, because it often rests in a hunched position, as do
caterpillars of the Plusiinae subfamily (which are less smooth),
it could be confused with the Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) and
Dark Spectacle (A. triplasia). Both also have dorsal chevrons
and a tail hump but are smaller, with a smaller head and stronger
white markings. Middle instar Dot Moth caterpillars, which are
humped but lack darkened chevrons, might be mistaken for the
Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis), although that caterpillar
has three instead of four pairs of prolegs.

Actual size
The Dot Moth caterpillar is green, light brownish
green, or dark brownish green marbled with
pink. It is smooth, with a noticeable hump at the
tail end, and is thickset when mature, with a large
head. Dorsally, it has a thin, white stripe down
the middle and a series of dark chevrons,
emboldened on the third and fourth segments
and on the hump.