Lasiocampidae: Poecilocampinae

1631 (ABH66.001) December Moth Poecilocampa populi, (Linnaeus, 1758)

KR06728

Great Staughton, November 2011
Great Staughton, November 2011
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Great Staughton, November 2011
 Photo © Peter Bissell
 pre-2000
 2000-2009
 2010-2019
 2020-onwards
Great Staughton, November 2011
Great Staughton, November 2011
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Great Staughton, November 2011
Great Staughton, November 2011
 Photo © Peter Bissell
 Photo © Barry Dickerson
Earith
Earith
 Photo © David Griffiths
Monks Wood
Monks Wood
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Monks Wood
Monks Wood
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
CEH Monks Wood. 20-11-2007. Light trap. Male
CEH Monks Wood. 20-11-2007. Light trap. Male
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Great Staughton, November 2011
Great Staughton, November 2011
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Whitelye, Monmouthshire, 26th October 2017.
Whitelye, Monmouthshire, 26th October 2017.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
CEH Monks Wood, 21st Nov. 2007. Light trap. Female.
CEH Monks Wood, 21st Nov. 2007. Light trap. Female.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Whiteleye, Monmouthshire, 25-11-2021. Light trap. Female.
Whiteleye, Monmouthshire, 25-11-2021. Light trap. Female.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Whitelye, Monmouthshire, 23-10-2021. Light trap. Female.
Whitelye, Monmouthshire, 23-10-2021. Light trap. Female.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap.
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 5th istar underside.
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 5th istar underside.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Monks Wood
Monks Wood
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 4th instar cast skins.
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 4th instar cast skins.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 4th instar.
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 4th instar.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 2nd, 3rd & 4th instars.
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 2nd, 3rd & 4th instars.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 2nd instar.
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 2nd instar.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 1st instar.
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. 1st instar.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. Some hatched
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. Some hatched
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap.
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. two coccoons in bark.
reared ex female: Whitelye, 23-11-2021. Light trap. two coccoons in bark.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies


General Information

This species is unlikely to be confused with any other moth flying at the same time of year.

 

Larvae feed at night, resting along a twig or on bark during the day.

 

Pupates under bark or in plant debris.

Overwinters as Overwinters as an egg.
Both sexes readily come to light, sometimes in numbers.

Forewing length: 15-21mm.
Foodplant(s): oaks (Quercus spp.), birches (Betula spp.), elms (Ulmus spp.), hawthorns (Crataegus spp.), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), poplars (Populus spp.), sallows (Salix spp.), broadleaved trees
Flying: One generation, October-January
UK Presence: Resident
National status: Common

Habitat

Mainly woodland, occasionally in scrubland, hedgerows and gardens.

Regional Information

Recorded in 56 (20.7%) of the 270 2km squares of Huntingdonshire.

Last recorded in December 2023

Recorded date range (Adult): 01 January to 26 December

Recorded date range (Larva/Leafmine): 11 May to 15 July

Similar Species
ex. Larva, Foxhall Close
ex. Larva, Foxhall Close
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Small Eggar Eriogaster lanestris


Larva/Leafmine:
Larva Type:
Hairy
Colours:
Blue, Grey, Green
No. of Proleg Pairs:
5