Erebidae : Lymantriinae
Yellow-tail
EUPROCTIS similis (Fuessly, 1775)
Yellow-tail
EUPROCTIS similis (Fuessly, 1775)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Alternative Names: Swan Moth (UK) Goldtail Moth (USA)
Wingspan: Male 35-42mm : Female 37-45mm.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Central Asia : East Asia : Iran : Afghanistan : North America-New Jersey, British Columbia and Ontario
UK Distribution: Resident. Found frequently in Southern England-locally scarce on the higher ground in South-west England,Wales and the Penines : Northern England and Scotland-Local : Isle of Man : Ireland-Local : Widespread and abundant on Channel Isles.
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Woodland : Hedgerows : Gardens : Scrub
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon on the larval food plant or close to the ground.
Overwinters as: Hibernates as a young larva
Observations: The White Satin moth is very similar to E.similis but does not a yellow abdomen or the grey spot on the inner-angle of the forewing (see photos below) and the legs are ringed black and white.
Antennae vary considerably between male and female of the species with the males being feathery,increasing the surface area of antennae, which enables them to sniff out the females at night more efficiently before courtship and mating,and the females having two singular straight antennae.
The larva of the Yellow-tail tufts of hairs which like the Brown-tail moth can be very irritating to susceptible people and would be best advised to avoid without appropriate protection. The tufts of hairs give rise to Lymantriidae being called "Tussock Moths".
As can be seen below the Yellow-tail uses larval food plants from at least six families of broadleaved trees.
The moth readily flies to light.
Wingspan: Male 35-42mm : Female 37-45mm.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Central Asia : East Asia : Iran : Afghanistan : North America-New Jersey, British Columbia and Ontario
UK Distribution: Resident. Found frequently in Southern England-locally scarce on the higher ground in South-west England,Wales and the Penines : Northern England and Scotland-Local : Isle of Man : Ireland-Local : Widespread and abundant on Channel Isles.
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena similis Fuessly, 1775
- Phalaena chrysorrhoea Linnaeus, 1758
- Switzerland
Habitat: Woodland : Hedgerows : Gardens : Scrub
Similar Species -
- White Satin Moth Leucoma salicis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon on the larval food plant or close to the ground.
Overwinters as: Hibernates as a young larva
Observations: The White Satin moth is very similar to E.similis but does not a yellow abdomen or the grey spot on the inner-angle of the forewing (see photos below) and the legs are ringed black and white.
Antennae vary considerably between male and female of the species with the males being feathery,increasing the surface area of antennae, which enables them to sniff out the females at night more efficiently before courtship and mating,and the females having two singular straight antennae.
The larva of the Yellow-tail tufts of hairs which like the Brown-tail moth can be very irritating to susceptible people and would be best advised to avoid without appropriate protection. The tufts of hairs give rise to Lymantriidae being called "Tussock Moths".
As can be seen below the Yellow-tail uses larval food plants from at least six families of broadleaved trees.
The moth readily flies to light.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants
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.
- Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Alnus glutinosa - Alder
- Betula pendula - Silver Birch
- Betula pubescens - White Birch - Downy Birch
- Carpinus betulus - Hornbeam
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Quercus petraea - Sessile Oak
- Quercus robur - Pedunculate Oak - Common Oak
- Grossulariaceae - Currant Family
- Ribes alpinum - Alpine Currant
- Ribes nigrum - Blackcurrant
- Ranunculaceae - Buttercup - Crowfoot Family
- Aconitum napellus - Aconite
- Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn
- Malus domestica - Apple
- Prunus padus - Bird Cherry - Hackberry
- Sorbus aucuparia - Mountain Ash - Rowan
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Ulmaceae - Elm Family
- Ulmus procera - English Elm - Common Elm
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - EUPROCTIS: Species Names: Original Species Name: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms/Aberrations: Subspecies: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Erebidae Lymantriinae Nygmiini EUPROCTIS Hübner, [1819] Euproctis similis (Fuessly, 1775) - Phalaena chrysorrhoea Linnaeus, 1758 - = Porthesia similis PHALAENA similis (Fuessly, 1775) = Porthesia nyctea Grum-Grshimailo, 1891 = Porthesia rebeli Haberhauer, 1902 = Porthesia similis sjöquisti Bryk, 1942 = Porthesia similis variabilina Bryk, 1948 = Arctornis chrysorrhoea Linnaeus, 1758 = Euproctis rebeli Hebrh, 1902 = Sphrageidus similis Fuessley, 1775 - Verz. bekannt. schweiz. Ins. : Title Page : p.35 - n.662 - Switzerland - E.s.f.immaculata Lempke, 1959-Male-no spot at all E.s.f.punctella Lempke, 1937-Female-black point on anal angle of forewing E.s.f.nyctea Grum-Grshimailo-Forewing has spot on anal-angleand spot on posterior edge of basal area E.s.f.auriflua Fabricius, 1787-Three anal-angle spots & one basal spot - E.s.xanthocampa Dyar, 1905-Japan |
