Spilosoma lubricipeda (Linnaeus, 1758)


Spilosoma lubricipeda: Adult (e.l. Illerbeuren near Memmingen, larva in August 2013) [S] Spilosoma lubricipeda: Adult (e.l. Illerbeuren near Memmingen, larva in August 2013) [S] Spilosoma lubricipeda: Adult (e.l. Illerbeuren near Memmingen, larva in August 2013) [S] Spilosoma lubricipeda: Adult [S] Spilosoma lubricipeda: Adult [S] Spilosoma lubricipeda: Larva (Illerbeuren near Memmingen, garden, S-Germany, August 2013) [M] Spilosoma lubricipeda: Larva (Illerbeuren near Memmingen, garden, S-Germany, August 2013) [M] Spilosoma lubricipeda: Larva (Illerbeuren near Memmingen, garden, S-Germany, August 2013) [M] Spilosoma lubricipeda: Pupa (e.l. Illerbeuren near Memmingen, larva in August 2013) [S] Spilosoma lubricipeda: Pupa (e.l. Illerbeuren near Memmingen, larva in August 2013) [S]

Host plants:
The larva lives polyphagous in the herb layer.

Habitat:
Usually Spilosoma lubricipeda settles moderately moist, open areas. But it occurs in many different habitats from grasslands to the not yet fully industrialized farmland. In the woods (clearings, verges), it is observed less frequent than Spilarctia lutea.

Life cycle:
Hibernation takes place as a pupa. The moths fly in May and June. Caterpillars can be found between June and August. Occasionally, you see them crawl around on roads on a sunny day. Regularly I found caterpillars in the garden when mowing a nature meadow in August. A partial second generation occurs only rarely.

Endangerment factors:
This modest species is still well represented, even if you can also observe a decline in the more common species (clearing out the landscape in many regions towards species-poor agricultural steppe).

Remarks:
Spilosoma lubricipeda is widespread in much of Europe and Asia to Japan.



Spilosoma lutea | Spilosoma urticae | Spilosoma virginica