Pale Eggar
Trichiura crataegi
This record describes Trichiura crataegi (species). Recorded family: Lasiocampidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 25 to 30 mm. A grey moth with angular black lined markings. It is quite variable across its range, the more northern forms tending to be darker. Its preferred habitats are heathland and the edges of woodland. The larvae feed on a range of plants and trees including Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Bilberry and Heather. Its range extends through England and Wales to northern Scotland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Lasiocampidae
- Genus
- Trichiura
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Its preferred habitats are heathland and the edges of woodland.
Seasonal Activity
August and September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a range of plants and trees including Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Bilberry and Heather.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Its range extends through England and Wales to northern Scotland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Trichiura crataegi. 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 Pale Eggar (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Pale Eggar
What is Pale Eggar?
Pale Eggar (Trichiura crataegi) is a species in the family Lasiocampidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pale Eggar found?
Habitat: Its preferred habitats are heathland and the edges of woodland.
When is Pale Eggar active?
Pale Eggar: seasonal activity - August and September..
What is the life cycle of a Pale Eggar?
The larvae feed on a range of plants and trees including Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Bilberry and Heather.