Festoon

At rest the wings are held at a low angle and the males hold their abdomen upturned. The females are slightly larger and paler in colour. The forewings have two curved cross-lines and the area between them can often be a darker shade.

The adults mainly fly at night and are attracted to light. They occasionally fly in sunshine in the oak canopy. The caterpillars can be found from late July to early the following May overwintering as larvae inside a cocoon.

Size and Family

• Family – Limacodidae
• Small Sized
• Wingspan Range – 10-26mm

Conservation status

• UK BAP: Not listed
• Nationally Scarce B

Caterpillar Food Plants

Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur), other oaks and Beech (Fagus sylvatica) 

Habitat

Mature broadleaved woodland in lowland areas as well as hedgerows with mature oaks and wooded heathland.

Distribution

• Countries – England
• Nationally scarce B. Found locally in the southern half of England, mostly in Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Wiltshire, Sussex, Surrey and Kent. Also very locally in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, East Anglia and Northamptonshire.