30-9-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GRASS EGGAR MOTH (Lasiocampa trifolii)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/335607-Lasiocampa-trifolii

24-9-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GRASS EGGAR MOTH (Lasiocampa trifolii)

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 Grass Eggar (Lasiocampa trifolii) is a medium-to-large, hairy, reddish-brown moth found across Europe and in coastal areas of the UK. Active in late summer (August-September), adults are nocturnal, attracted to light, and do not feed. They are classified as Nationally Scarce in the UK. 

Key Facts about the Grass Eggar Moth:

Appearance: Adults have a 40–60mm wingspan, with females generally larger than males. They are reddish-brown with a distinct white spot in the center of the forewing and a curved outer line. A pale, straw-colored form (f. flava) also exists.

Habitat: Primarily found in coastal sand dunes, shingle beaches, and maritime cliffs, though some populations exist on inland heathland.

Life Cycle & Behavior:

Larvae: The caterpillars are hairy, typically yellow, and feed at night on various plants, including grasses, Calluna, and shrubs like bramble.

Pupation: They pupate in a tough, brown cocoon on the ground.

Overwintering: They overwinter as eggs, which are laid loosely among vegetation.

Flight Time: Adults fly at night from June to September, depending on the location.

Conservation Status: The species is considered "Nationally Scarce" in the UK. In some parts of Europe, it is threatened by habitat loss, agricultural intensification, and changing grazing practices.

Differences from Similar Species: It is often compared to the Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa quercus) but is generally smaller and paler. 

22-9-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GRASS EGGAR MOTH (Lasiocampa trifolii)

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.

Distribution and habitat of this moth is that it is found in Europe in coastal dunes.

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. 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. The female is larger than the male.

The Grass Eggar is reddish-brown in colour with a curved outer cross-line on the forewing and a central white spot. The colour varies with location. The pale form f. flava is a straw or brownish yellow with similar markings.

The adults are incapable of feeding. They fly at night and are attracted to light. The caterpillars can be found from March to July feeding at night. They pupate in a tough brown cocoon on the ground. They overwinter as eggs laid loosely among vegetation.

Size and Family

Family – Eggar moths (Lasiocampidae)

Medium / Large Sized

Wingspan Range – 42-60mm

Conservation Status

UK BAP: Not Listed

Grass Eggar - Nationally Scarce A

Pale Grass Eggar – Red Data Book species

Caterpillar Food Plants

Foodplants vary between areas including False Oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatus), Tree Lupin (Laburnum arboreus), Marram (Ammophila arenaria), Bramble (Rubus fruiticosus) and Creeping Willow (Salix repens).

20-9-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GRASS EGGAR MOTH (Lasiocampa trifolii)

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.