Pale Tussock
Calliteara pudibunda
This record describes Calliteara pudibunda (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 40-60 mm. Both the adults and larvae are quite hairy. Gardens, hedgerows, parks, woodland and scrub. The moths fly in May and June and are attracted to light. The larva is similar to that of the Dark Tussock ( Dicallomera fascelina ), but is generally greenish or yellow, with four conspicuous tufts of yellow hairs. It feeds on a range of deciduous shrubs and trees and used to be a pest of Hop when it was commonly grown. Fairly common in England and Wales, local in Ireland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Calliteara pudibunda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliteara pudibunda.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae (Underwing, Tiger, Tussock, and Allied Moths)
- Subfamily
- Lymantriinae
- Tribe
- Orgyiini
- Genus
- Calliteara
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Gardens, hedgerows, parks, woodland and scrub.
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly in May and June and are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva is similar to that of the Dark Tussock (
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common in England and Wales, local in Ireland. 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 Calliteara pudibunda. 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 Tussock (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Pale Tussock
What is Pale Tussock?
Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pale Tussock found?
Habitat: Gardens, hedgerows, parks, woodland and scrub.
When is Pale Tussock active?
Pale Tussock: seasonal activity - The moths fly in May and June and are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Pale Tussock?
The larva is similar to that of the Dark Tussock (