Lasiocampidae : Lasiocampinae
Small Eggar
ERIOGASTER (Eriogaster) lanestris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Small Eggar
ERIOGASTER (Eriogaster) lanestris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: Male - 28-35mm Female - 30-45mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - excluding (Azores,Balearic Is.,Canary Is.,Channel Is.,Corsica,Crete,Cyprus,Madeira,Malta,Portugal,Sardinia, & Sicily) - eastwards to Amur Region of northern China and southern Siberia
UK Distribution: England,Ireland - few scattered colonies : Wales - few localities
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Hedgerows : Scattered Bushes in Open Country
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in strong ochreous cocoon spun up on the host plant
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: This moth is now a scarce species possibly due in part to loss of hedgerows or early trimming of same during the larval stage and weather conditions and is now considered a Nationally Scarce B species.
The moth is unmistakable firstly due to its very early flight season of February to March and secondly due to its small size and deep reddish brown background,whitish spot in centre of forewing and whitish postmedian line.There is also a white clearly marked "shoulder" loop.
Part of the hindwing is visible when the moth is a rest with its forewings closed.(See photo)
The female is larger with a large tuft of grey hair on the end of the abdomen which is used to cover the egg batches.
Being nocturnal the moth is seldom seen but is sometimes attracted to the light trap.
The full range of this beautiful moth is in Europe eastwards to the Amur region of China nad Siberia.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - excluding (Azores,Balearic Is.,Canary Is.,Channel Is.,Corsica,Crete,Cyprus,Madeira,Malta,Portugal,Sardinia, & Sicily) - eastwards to Amur Region of northern China and southern Siberia
UK Distribution: England,Ireland - few scattered colonies : Wales - few localities
UK Conservation Status -
- Nationally Scarce B (Nb - BAP : 1997) = 31 - 100 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena lanestris (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Phalaena lanestris (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Europe
Habitat: Hedgerows : Scattered Bushes in Open Country
Similar Species -
- None
Pupa: Pupates in strong ochreous cocoon spun up on the host plant
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: This moth is now a scarce species possibly due in part to loss of hedgerows or early trimming of same during the larval stage and weather conditions and is now considered a Nationally Scarce B species.
The moth is unmistakable firstly due to its very early flight season of February to March and secondly due to its small size and deep reddish brown background,whitish spot in centre of forewing and whitish postmedian line.There is also a white clearly marked "shoulder" loop.
Part of the hindwing is visible when the moth is a rest with its forewings closed.(See photo)
The female is larger with a large tuft of grey hair on the end of the abdomen which is used to cover the egg batches.
Being nocturnal the moth is seldom seen but is sometimes attracted to the light trap.
The full range of this beautiful moth is in Europe eastwards to the Amur region of China nad Siberia.
Photo Gallery
Larva
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
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.
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.
- Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Alnus glutinosa - Alder
- Alnus incana - Grey Alder
- Betula nana - Dwarf Birch
- Betula pendula - Silver Birch
- Betula pubescens - Downy Birch
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
- Celastraceae - Staff Vine : Bittersweet Family
- Euonymus europaeus - Spindle Tree
- Ericaceae - Heather Family
- Vaccinium myrtilus - Bilberry - Blue Whortleberry
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Castanea sativa - Sweet Chestnut
- Quercus robur - Pedunculate Oak - Common Oak
- Rosaceae - The Rose Family
- Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn
- Malus pumila - Paradise Apple
- Malus sylvestris - Crab Apple
- Prunus cerasus - Sour Cherry
- Prunus dulcis - Almond
- Prunus padus - Bird Cherry - Hackberry
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn - Sloe
- Rosa canina - Dog Rose
- Rubus idaeus - Raspberry - Framboise
- Sorbus aucuparia - Mountain Ash - Rowan
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Populus tremula - Aspen Poplar
- Salix aurita - Eared Sallow
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Salix cinerea - Grey Willow
- Salix pentandra - Bay Willow
- Salix phylicifolia - Tealeaf Willow
- Salix repens - Creeping Willow
- Tiliaceae - Lime Family
- Tilia cordata - Small-leaved Lime
- Tilia platyphyllos - Large-leaved Lime
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Subgenus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - ERIOGASTER: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Subspecies: Forms: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Lasiocampoidea Lasiocampidae Lasiocampinae Eriogastrini ERIOGASTER Germar 1810 Eriogaster Germar 1810 Eriogaster (Eriogaster) lanestris (Linnaeus, 1758) - Phalaena lanestris Linnaeus, 1758 - PHALAENA lanestris Linnaeus, 1758 = senecta Graeser, 1888 = borealis Caradja, 1895 = hungarica Daniel, 1935 = montana Traöger, 1956 = Eriogaster obsoleta Cockayne 1944 = Eriogaster deleta Cockayne 1950 = Eriogaster nigrosuffusa Smith 1954 = Rebel obsoleta Tutt, 1910 = Bombyx aavasaksae Teich, 1881 = Eriogaster quadrangulata Rebel 1910 = Eriogaster radiata Perrier 1957 = Eriogaster rufomarginata Closs & Hannemann 1917 - Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.499- n. 15 - Europe - E.l.lanestris (Linnaeus, 1758) - Nominate Subspecies - Asia Minor - E.l.f.aavasaksae Teich, 1881 - Towards grey with fragmented postmedial line - Lapland E.l.f.absoleta Tutt, 1910 - no discal spot E.l.f.hungaria Daniel, 1935 - chocolate brown - Balkans E.l.f.variegata Lenze, 1926 - background lighter,postmedial line faint |