Malacosoma alpicolum
Caterpillar of Malacosoma alpicola
- 5.1 Notes and references
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 18-34 millimeters. The males have on those thirds dark gray brown colored forewings two yellowish lines cross the wing about. The line near the wing root is usually drawn only indistinctly. The females have a reddish-brown wing ground color is of the two transverse lines, if at all, only the rear, only weak little brighter drawn. The hind wings have the same basic color as that of the forewing in both males as well as in the much larger mature females.
The caterpillars are about 60 mm long. You are strongly colored blue-gray and have the back a whitish longitudinal stripes. In addition, it can be seen wide black, at the edges slightly orange colored longitudinal line. You can see the caterpillars of the Lackey Moth ( Malacosoma neustria ) are very similar, but are by the black vertical line colored considerably darker. They also have no ocelli on the head.
Occurrence
The animals arrive in the Central and Southern Alps often happens in German Alps, they are very rare. They live in moist alpine meadows above the tree line.
Way of life
The moths, especially the males, are also diurnal. Their mating takes place usually in the early afternoon.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in one generation in July and August.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed on many different plants, but prefer rose family ( Rosaceae ), such as Alpine Lady's Mantle ( Alchemilla alpina), gold cinquefoil ( Potentilla aurea ), Meadowsweet ( Filipendula ulmaria ) and blackberry (Rubus fruticosus ). Other food crops are for example Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias ) and various shrubs.
Development
The females lay their eggs in curled around Stem Set. The caterpillars hatch after overwintering, but then develop rapidly despite the harsh climate. Pupation takes place in a cocoon, which is powdered lemon yellow, rather than between plant parts under rocks.