Furcula furcula, the sallow kitten, is a moth from the family Notodontidae. It was first described by the Swedish entomologist Carl Alexander Clerck in 1759 from a specimen found in Sweden.
The moth can be found in Europe (including the Mediterranean region), Anatolia and through Asia to China. It is also found in North America.[1]
Descriptionedit
Male
The sallow kitten is grey/white and has a wingspan of 27 to 35 mm. The first part of the wing has a large grey middle band. It differs from the poplar kitten (Furcula bifida) in its generally smaller size, but more especially in the shape of the black line forming the outer margin of the central band; this is always more or less angled or dentate towards the front margin of the wings, whereas, in the poplar kitten, this portion of the line forms a clean curve. The flight period ranges from April to the end of August. Depending on location the moth has one or two generations per year and is attracted to light.[1]
Figs. 2c larvae before last moult 2, 2a, 2b larva after last moult 2d bark of willow showing the cocoon
Ova
The dark purple, hemispericle eggs are laid in batches of two or three on the upper surface of leaves in May or June and again in August. They hatch after nine days.[1]
Larva
The caterpillar can grow up to 35 mm and is bright green with a purple brown marking on the saddle and can be found from May through to September. The main host plants are willow (Salix species) and occasionally aspen (Populus tremula) and other poplar (Populus species).[2] Larvae can be found on small isolated moorland bushes.[1]
Pupa
Before pupation the larva hollows out a recess. The pupa is dark purple-brown and pupation takes place in a tough cocoon constructed from a mixture of chewed wood-pulp and silk.[1]
^"Robinson, G. S., P. R. Ackery, I. J. Kitching, G. W. Beccaloni & L. M. Hernández, 2010. HOSTS – A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London".
Further readingedit
South R. (1907) The Moths of the British Isles, (First Series), Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., London & NY: 359 pp. online
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Furcula furcula.
Sallow kitten on UK Moths
Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa
www.schmetterling-raupe.de
Lepiforum.de Taxonomy and Photos
December 02, 2023
furcula, furcula, sallow, kitten, moth, from, family, notodontidae, first, described, swedish, entomologist, carl, alexander, clerck, 1759, from, specimen, found, sweden, sallow, kittenmalescientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, art. Furcula furcula the sallow kitten is a moth from the family Notodontidae It was first described by the Swedish entomologist Carl Alexander Clerck in 1759 from a specimen found in Sweden Sallow kittenMaleScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder LepidopteraSuperfamily NoctuoideaFamily NotodontidaeGenus FurculaSpecies F furculaBinomial nameFurcula furcula Clerck 1759 Contents 1 Distribution 2 Description 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksDistribution editThe moth can be found in Europe including the Mediterranean region Anatolia and through Asia to China It is also found in North America 1 Description edit nbsp MaleThe sallow kitten is grey white and has a wingspan of 27 to 35 mm The first part of the wing has a large grey middle band It differs from the poplar kitten Furcula bifida in its generally smaller size but more especially in the shape of the black line forming the outer margin of the central band this is always more or less angled or dentate towards the front margin of the wings whereas in the poplar kitten this portion of the line forms a clean curve The flight period ranges from April to the end of August Depending on location the moth has one or two generations per year and is attracted to light 1 nbsp Figs 2c larvae before last moult 2 2a 2b larva after last moult 2d bark of willow showing the cocoonOvaThe dark purple hemispericle eggs are laid in batches of two or three on the upper surface of leaves in May or June and again in August They hatch after nine days 1 LarvaThe caterpillar can grow up to 35 mm and is bright green with a purple brown marking on the saddle and can be found from May through to September The main host plants are willow Salix species and occasionally aspen Populus tremula and other poplar Populus species 2 Larvae can be found on small isolated moorland bushes 1 PupaBefore pupation the larva hollows out a recess The pupa is dark purple brown and pupation takes place in a tough cocoon constructed from a mixture of chewed wood pulp and silk 1 References edit a b c d e Heath John Emmet A Maitland Fletcher D S Pelham Clinton E C Tremewan W G Hargreaves Brian Lane Doreen 1983 The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Volume 9 Colchester Harley Books pp 43 4 ISBN 0 946589 16 X Robinson G S P R Ackery I J Kitching G W Beccaloni amp L M Hernandez 2010 HOSTS A Database of the World s Lepidopteran Hostplants Natural History Museum London Further reading editSouth R 1907 The Moths of the British Isles First Series Frederick Warne amp Co Ltd London amp NY 359 pp onlineExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Furcula furcula Sallow kitten on UK Moths Fauna Europaea Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa www schmetterling raupe de Lepiforum de Taxonomy and Photos Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Furcula furcula amp oldid 1133160164, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
