Species of the Month - November 2017

December Moth

Poecilocampa populi
 

Despite its name the December Moth is most often seen in November in our area.  Our earliest record is 20 Oct and our latest is 16 Dec.  All our sightings are to house lights or moth traps.  It will often come to a lit window at this time of year, and may even come inside if the window is open.
 

The December Moth is not likely to be confused with any other species.  It belongs to the Lasiocampidae, a family with just 12 British moth species including the well-known Drinker, Fox Moth and Northern Eggar.
 

The male December Moth has comb-like antennae to enable it to detect the female's pheromones from a great distance.
 

The female is larger than the male, and has a broader abdomen, and antennae with only a short spine on each segment.
 

The female on the left laid these eggs in Noelle Odling's moth trap on Lismore.  The eggs are distinctive with a bullseye mark on their ends.  Noelle placed them on a tree trunk afterwards, where hopefully they survived the winter to hatch in spring.  The December Moth larva feeds on a variety of broadleaved trees, including oak, birch, willow and many other common species.

Please send in your December Moth sightings using the form below, or email sightings@lnhg.org.uk with the details if you prefer.  If you are not sure of the identity of your moth, please send a photo to sightings@lnhg.org.uk, or put one on the LNHG Facebook page.