Lasiocampa trifolii

Grass eggar
	Adult
	Caterpillar from above
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lasiocampidae
Genus:	Lasiocampa
Species:	L. trifolii
Binomial name
	Lasiocampa trifolii; (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

Lasiocampa trifolii, the grass eggar, is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775 and found in Europe.^[1]

Illustration from John Curtis's *British Entomology* Volume 5

Distribution and habitat[edit]

It is found in Europe in coastal dunes.^[1]^[2]

Life cycle and behaviour[edit]

Eggs are laid on leaves close to the ground, hatch in the autumn, and the young larvae hibernate. The larvae feed on grasses,^[1] various shrubs and deciduous trees, such as oak, European beech, poplar and Calluna.^{[citation needed]} The cocoon is formed on the ground.^[1]

Adults' wingspan is 40–55 mm and it flies from June to September depending on the location (in Britain it is on the wing in August). They fly during the day, but also at night, and will come to a light.^[1] The female is larger than the male.

Caterpillar
Caterpillar
Female
Female underside
Male
Male underside

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Ford, R.L.E. (1963). The Observer's Book of Larger Moths. London: Frederick Warne. p. 143.
^ "UK moths". Retrieved 22 September 2022.

External links[edit]

[Ford-1] Ford, R.L.E. (1963). The Observer's Book of Larger Moths. London: Frederick Warne. p. 143.

[UK-2] "UK moths". Retrieved 22 September 2022.

[1]

[2]