Sallow Kitten
Furcula furcula
This record describes Furcula furcula (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 27-35 mm. A most attractive moth resembling a kitten with its furry head and front legs. Its rich patterning of black on white is also speckled with oranges. The most widespread and common of the British 'Kittens' being distributed throughout in a range of habitats. In the southern half of its range there are two generations, flying in May and June, then again in August. In the north it is single-brooded, flying in June and July. The caterpillars, which resemble smaller versions of those of the Puss Moths feed on Willows, Aspen and other Poplars. Widespread and fairly frequent throughout most of Britain. 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
- Notodontidae
- Genus
- Furcula
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The most widespread and common of the British 'Kittens' being distributed throughout in a range of habitats.
Seasonal Activity
In the southern half of its range there are two generations, flying in May and June, then again in August. In the north it is single-brooded, flying in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillars, which resemble smaller versions of those of the Puss Moths feed on Willows, Aspen and other Poplars.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread and fairly frequent throughout most of Britain. 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 Furcula furcula. 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 Sallow Kitten (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Sallow Kitten
What is Sallow Kitten?
Sallow Kitten (Furcula furcula) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Sallow Kitten found?
Habitat: The most widespread and common of the British 'Kittens' being distributed throughout in a range of habitats.
When is Sallow Kitten active?
Sallow Kitten: seasonal activity - In the southern half of its range there are two generations, flying in May and June, then again in August. In the north it is single-brooded, flying in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Sallow Kitten?
The caterpillars, which resemble smaller versions of those of the Puss Moths feed on Willows, Aspen and other Poplars.