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Ocneria rubea is a species of tussock moth found in Southern Europe and Northwest Africa. There are notable differences in appearance between the male and female moths, as well as distinct features of their life cycle and diet.
Key Facts and Figures
Classification: It belongs to the family Erebidae, commonly known as tussock moths.
Geographic Range: Occurs across Southern Europe (up to central France, the southern Alps, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic) and Northwest Africa.
Habitat: Inhabits maquis, open oak scrub, and oak woodlands.
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Physical Appearance
Male Ocneria rubea moths have a wingspan of approximately 3-4 cm and are grey-brown with dark wing markings and a slender body. Female moths are larger, with a wingspan of about 4-7 cm, and are mostly white with wavy, black bands on the forewing and a distended abdomen containing an egg mass, covered in yellowish hairs.
Ocneria rubea caterpillars are hairy and exhibit a range of colors including black, yellow, blue, and red patterns. The head of the caterpillar is typically yellow in the later stages of development.
Life Cycle and Diet
Generations: The moths usually have one or two generations annually, active from June to early October.
Hibernation: The larvae spend the winter in old oak leaf litter.
Diet: The primary food source for the larvae is oak (Quercus) species, but they also consume other shrubs like Cistus, Rubus, and Arbutus. Younger larvae tend to feed on the tender, low-lying parts of the host plants.
