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.
The Distribution and habitat of the moth in Europe is in coastal dunes.
Life cycle and behaviour
Eggs are laid on leaves close to the ground, hatch in the autumn, and the young larvae hibernate. The larvae feed on grasses, various shrubs and deciduous trees, such as oak, European beech, poplar and Calluna.[citation needed] The cocoon is formed on the ground.
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. In common with many of the Lasiocampidae, the females of this species are larger than the males, though otherwise similar in appearance.
The hairy caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses and plants.
It occurs rather locally, on coastal sand hills in the north-west and south-west of Britain as the nominate subspecies trifolii. In Kent, the subspecies flava, known as Pale Grass Eggar, occurs at Dungeness.
Adults fly at night in August and September, when they are attracted to light.
