Eriogaster catax

Eriogaster catax
Adult (top) and larva (bottom)
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lasiocampidae
Genus:	Eriogaster
Species:	E. catax
Binomial name
Eriogaster catax (Linnaeus, 1758)

Eriogaster catax, commonly known as the eastern eggar, is a species of moth in the family Lasiocampidae.

Description[edit]

Eriogaster catax has a wingspan of 27–35 millimetres (1.1–1.4 in) in males, of 35–45 millimetres (1.4–1.8 in) in the females. This species shows a pronounced sexual dimorphism. The males are smaller and have feathery antennae. In males the basal part of the front wing is yellow-orange, while the outer part is pinkish-brown. In the females the front wings are browner. In both sexes, the front wings show a transversal line and a white discal spot within a dark border. Hind wings have no markings. Females are larger and at the end of the abdomen they have a tuft of dense gray-black hairs.

The eggs hatch in April. The larvae feed on Crataegus, Quercus, Betula, Populus, Prunus and Berberis species. This univoltine species fly at night in September and October.

Distribution[edit]

It is found in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, and Spain.

References[edit]

• P. J. Van Helsdingen, Luc Willemse, Martin C. D. Speigh Background information on invertebrates of the Habitats Directive and the Bern Convention
• Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa
• Fauna europaea^{[dead link]}
• Discovertarnavamare
• Lepiforum.de

This article on a moth of the family Lasiocampidae is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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