December Moth

December Moth

Poecilocampa populi

 

To be seen now. Found all over UK. Mainly in woodland but also scrub, hedgerows and established gardens

Females are much larger than the males, with charcoal grey-brown forewings with wavy cream markings

These are night flying moths and are attracted to light

Their caterpillars can be found from April – June feeding at night on twigs or bark during the day, before they pupate under bark or among plant debris. Caterpillars feed on broadleaved tress such as oaks, birches, elms, hawthorns, blackthorns, poplars and sallows. They overwinter as eggs on the food plant

From the Eggar family of moths

Medium in size with a wingspan of about 3 – 4 cm

Candida Hopkinson