Brown-tail

Gold After ( Euproctis chrysorrhoea )

The Gold After ( Euproctis chrysorrhoea ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the subfamily of Trägspinner ( Lymantriinae ) within the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).

Features

The gold after reaching a wingspan of about 30 to 35 millimeters, which is significantly greater than that of him like Swan ( Euproctis similis ). The best way to distinguish the two Trägspinner by the expansion of the yellow area on the abdomen (After Bush ). The males have the abdomen on a rust- red finish, while the females show a wider rust-colored area. Some individuals also have yellow-brown bristles on the abdomen. The top two pairs of wings is white without the black spot, the swan has.

♂

Similar Species

• Swan ( Euproctis similis )
• American Webebär ( Hyphantria cunea )
• Schmalflügeliger Fleckleibbär ( Spilosoma urticae)

Dissemination

One finds this kind in Europe, in the north to central Sweden and southern Finland. Furthermore, in the southwestern Mediterranean, the Iberian Peninsula, and Russia to the east. In North America, the species was introduced about 100 years ago.

Habitat

The main habitats are today parks and orchards. Previously light deciduous mixed forests were the home of the Gold anus.

Way of life

The female lays about 200 eggs in a pile and deployed to protect them from predators then the hair of her abdomen it. The nest looks now like a tree sponge and is therefore not immediately discovered by birds.

From September to June we find the caterpillars that some time remain together even directly after hatching. In the summer they weave leaves together with an 8 to 10 inches large, white felt-like dream. Even after the early annual hatching, the animals keep coming back after eating at this dream. When eating this type secretes strands.

The caterpillars are about 35 to 40 millimeters long, greyish black, fitted with a red -and-white drawings and a long coat. They feed mostly of hardwoods such as oak, cherry, plum, apple and pear trees.

The caterpillars overwinter sociable in a winter nest.

Flight Times

The animals fly from late June to early August.

Harmful effect

The species prefers trees and shrubs in open countryside, avenue trees, specimen trees and fruit trees in gardens and orchards. Often it comes to defoliation, so that the gold is regarded as a pest after. A reduction is possible by separating the overwintering webs after leaf fall or foliar spraying with Bacillus thuringiensis preparations or Neem preparations in young caterpillar stage before the webs are woven tightly.