Brown-tail
Euproctis chrysorrhoea
This record describes Euproctis chrysorrhoea (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 36 to 42 mm. A plain white species when at rest, although the abdomen, as the name suggests, has a brown tuft of hairs which the female uses to cover the eggs with when they are laid. The brown colouration extends along most of the back of the abdomen in the male. In the female, the back of the abdomen is white, but the tuft of brown hairs is bigger. Scrub, hedges and gardens containing the larval foodplants. The hairs of the caterpillars cause extreme irritation if in contact with human skin. They feed in a communal web on the leaves of Hawthorn and Blackthorn. The species is distributed mainly around the south and east coasts of England and in some years can become locally abundant. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Lymantriinae
- Tribe
- Leucomini
- Genus
- Euproctis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Scrub, hedges and gardens containing the larval foodplants.
Seasonal Activity
July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The hairs of the caterpillars cause extreme irritation if in contact with human skin. They feed in a communal web on the leaves of Hawthorn and Blackthorn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is distributed mainly around the south and east coasts of England and in some years can become locally abundant. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euproctis chrysorrhoea. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Brown-tail (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Brown-tail
What is Brown-tail?
Brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Brown-tail found?
Habitat: Scrub, hedges and gardens containing the larval foodplants.
When is Brown-tail active?
Brown-tail: seasonal activity - July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Brown-tail?
The hairs of the caterpillars cause extreme irritation if in contact with human skin. They feed in a communal web on the leaves of Hawthorn and Blackthorn.