| Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda (Linnaeus, 1758)) |
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Scientific name: Calliteara pudibunda (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Pale Tussock French name: Pudibonde, Patte étendue. Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Heterocera Family: Erebidae Subfamily: Lymantriinae Wingspan: 55 to 60 mm for females, 40 to 50 mm for males. Biotope: Deciduous forests, woodland edges, hedgerows, parks and gardens. Geographic area: Palearctic region but missing in the extreme north. Flight time: May-June. Number of generations : 1 Caterpillar: Very hairy with shaving brush-shaped tufts of hair on segments 4 to 7 and another longer tuft of hairs on segment 11. These caterpillars are variable in colour, either greenish yellow with yellow or white tuft of hairs, either pale pinkish brown with more or less light-coloured pinkish tuft of hairs. The long hind tuft varies from red to black. The areas between segments are black. Host plant: Many deciduous trees including Goat Willows (Salix caprea), Common Hazels (Corylus avellana), Common Oaks (Quercus robur), etc. |
The Pale Tussock shows an important sexual dimorphism. Females have pale grey wings with two to four dark brown wavy cross lines in the median area. Males, which are a smaller size, are clearly darker, in particular in the median area. They have long pectinate antennae. Both sexes show very hairy thorax, head and fore legs. The fore legs are typically held outstretched forwards when at rest. The Pale Tussock over winters as a pupa in the soil. |
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After having seen several times the Pale Tussock's beautiful caterpillar, but without my camera, one female came to me by using the wall next to the entrance door of my house as a diurnal resting place. It has been then very easy to shoot pictures. |
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I measure a fore wing length of 32 mm here, this gives a wingspan of 64 mm. |
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Side view. |
André Bon June 2018