| Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis (Linnaeus, 1758)) |
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Scientific name: Thyatira batis (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Peach Blossom French name: Batis Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Heterocera Family: Drepanidae Subfamily: Thyatirinae Wingspan: 32-38 mm. Biotope: Deciduous forests, coniferous forests, woodland edges, damp meadows with bushes, parks and gardens. Geographic area: Europe, North Africa, Asia east to Japan and Mongolia. Flight time: June to July with a partial second brood late August to September. Number of generations : 1 plus a partial second brood. Caterpillar: Reddish brown to purple brown with a bump on the 2nd, 5th to 9th and 11th segments. There may be a pale triangular patch on the back. Young caterpillars are brown, grey on the upper side with a large white patch upon the front parts. Host plant: Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), Bramble (Rubus fruticosus) and other plants of the Rubus genus. |
The Peach Blossom shows dark brown fore wings with thin black lines and, on each wing, five oval pink spots, bordered with white and more or less pupiled with a paler brown colour. These spots resemble peach blossom and are the reason of the English common name of this species. The hind wings are pale greyish brown with a white fringe. The Peach Blossom is active during the night and it is attracted to light. It over winters as a chrysalis. |
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I have observed this caterpillar, which is not yet at the last instar, on my Red Raspberry. I just need now to observe a beautiful imago but this is another story as it is only active during the night. I will have to organize light trap sessions. |
André Bon January 2016