Monday 26 December 2016

Moth pupa on beech leaf?

I spotted this bright green pupa on a beech leaf, still on the tree, at Dancersend Reserve this morning. Can anyone point me in the right direction for an identification? I doubt it will be there long, unless it is very distasteful to birds.

Happy Xmas to everyone.

Mick Jones

2 comments:

  1. Hi Mick, the shape is quite distinctive and I think it is one of the Cyclophora species, so I'd suggest C. linearia (Clay Triple-lines) which seems to be the only one which feeds on beech. It over-winters as a pupa attached to a leaf in just the way your photo shows.

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  2. Thanks Dave. I knew there would be someone not completely consumed with Christmas and still interested in moths!

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