Notodontidae : Cerurinae
Sallow Kitten
FURCULA furcula (Clerck, 1759)
Sallow Kitten
FURCULA furcula (Clerck, 1759)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 35-42mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe(incl Mediterranean region) : Anatolia : North of Iran
UK Distribution: England and Wales-widespread and common,especially in the south : Scotland and Ireland-thinly distributed
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Favours damp woodland where Sallows are in abundance : Gardens : Heathland
Similar Species -
Pupa: The cocoon is well camouflaged,spun against a branch of the larval food plant.
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The similar species Poplar Kitten F.bifida is larger than the Sallow Kitten F.furcula and the two parallel central cros-lines with teeth like markings towards the rear are clearly defined in F.furcula whereas in F.bifida this cross-line fades towards the costa,sometimes vanishing altogether.The rearward facing median fascia cross line is wavy and vanishes towards the dorsum with F.furcula whereas in F.bifida this line is straight and more clearly defined in black.
This beautiful moth is a regular visitor to the light trap.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe(incl Mediterranean region) : Anatolia : North of Iran
UK Distribution: England and Wales-widespread and common,especially in the south : Scotland and Ireland-thinly distributed
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena furcula Clerck, 1759
- Phalaena furcula Clerck, 1759
- Not Specified
Habitat: Favours damp woodland where Sallows are in abundance : Gardens : Heathland
Similar Species -
- Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida Brahm, 1787
Pupa: The cocoon is well camouflaged,spun against a branch of the larval food plant.
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The similar species Poplar Kitten F.bifida is larger than the Sallow Kitten F.furcula and the two parallel central cros-lines with teeth like markings towards the rear are clearly defined in F.furcula whereas in F.bifida this cross-line fades towards the costa,sometimes vanishing altogether.The rearward facing median fascia cross line is wavy and vanishes towards the dorsum with F.furcula whereas in F.bifida this line is straight and more clearly defined in black.
This beautiful moth is a regular visitor to the light trap.
Photo Gallery
Ovum
Larva
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Sallow Kitten larvae feed on plant families described below plant photos.
Sallow Kitten larvae feed on plant families described below plant photos.
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website
where further information like photos,physical
characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal
uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
- Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Populus alba - White Poplar
- Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar
- Populus tremula - Aspen Poplar
- Salix alba - White Willow
- Salix aurita - Eared Sallow
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Salix cinerea - Grey Willow
- Salix fragilis - Crack Willow
- Salix myrsinifolia - Dark-leaved Willow
- Salix phylicifolia - Tealeaf Willow
- Salix repens - Creeping Willow
- Salix starkiana - Pale Willow
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Betulaceae - Betula - Birch
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
Larval Food Plants
|
|
|
Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - FURCULA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms/Aberrations: Subspecies: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Notodontidae Cerurinae Dicranurini FURCULA Lamarck 1816 Furcula furcula (Clerck, 1759) - Phalaena furcula (Clerck, 1759) - PHALAENA furcula (Clerck, 1759) = fuscinula Hübner, 1803 = Furcula salicis Lamarck, 1816 = alpina Vorbrodt & Müller-Rutz, 1911 = atlantica Daniel, 1965 - CLERCK, C. (1759): Icones insectorum rariorum cum nomibus eorum trivialibus, locique e C. Linnaei : Title Page : Tab. 9, fig. 9. Stockholm - Not Specified - F.f.f.atlantica Daniel, 1965-Atlantis coast of France & S England-light coloured,contrasting markings F.f.f.alpina Vorbrodt & Müller-Rutz, 1911-Robust & vigorously marked F.f.f.fuscinula Hübner,1803-Alps,Pyranees,as far as Greece-More Grey with less contrast - F.f.ajatar Schilde, 1874-Scandanavian regions-Smoked colouration F.f.forficula Fischer von Waldheim, 1820-Russia & C Europe-very blurred markings F.f.sangaica Moore,1877 F.F.furcula Clerck 1759 F.f.fuscinula Hübner, 1800 F.f.intercalaris Grum-Grshimailo, 1899 F.f.pulvigara Staudinger,1901-Caucusus & Turkey |