71.005 : 1997 : 8708
Notodontidae : Cerurinae

Sallow Kitten

FURCULA furcula (Clerck, 1759)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
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 -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena furcula Clerck, 1759
Type Species - Furcula
  • Phalaena furcula Clerck, 1759
Type Locality -
  • Not Specified
Flight Period: South-April to June & July to early September : North-June and July-Single generation
Habitat: Favours damp woodland where Sallows are in abundance : Gardens : Heathland
Similar Species -
  • Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida Brahm, 1787
Larva: Side view-larva is green with reddish spots of varying sizes ringed with yellow. The larva shape is radial at the top, up to and in line with the secocond thoracic leg where it dips at about 30° to the head.The other end tapers from the last prolegs to the anal prolegs which stick out the rear of the larva like a couple of tails. Top view-at the centre of the larvae is a saddle in reddish brown and yellow which tapers both ways before widening out at the head and the rear of the larva. This saddle like markings are edged all the way with a yellow band. Larva June to July & August to October in the south.
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.

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.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - FURCULA:

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Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Notodontidae
Cerurinae
Dicranurini
FURCULA Lamarck 1816
Furcula furcula (Clerck, 1759)
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Phalaena furcula (Clerck, 1759)
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PHALAENA furcula (Clerck, 1759)
= fuscinula Hübner, 1803
= Furcula salicis Lamarck, 1816
= alpina Vorbrodt & Müller-Rutz, 1911
= atlantica Daniel, 1965
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CLERCK, C. (1759): Icones insectorum rariorum cum nomibus eorum trivialibus, locique e C. Linnaei : Title Page :  Tab. 9, fig. 9. Stockholm
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Not Specified
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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
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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