Puss moth

A large white or greyish-white furry moth, the Puss moth is named after the cat-like appearance of the adult. The female is generally larger and also differs in having a grey hindwing and sometimes forewing.

Eggs are laid singly, or in twos or threes on the uppersides of leaves. When disturbed and as a warning, the striking caterpillars will raise their head and wave twin tails, which have pinkish extendable flagellae. They may even squirt formic acid at the attacker if the defence warning is unheeded. Caterpillars can be found from July to September and will often strip entire stems of leaves before pupating in a hard cocoon spun on a tree trunk or post, incorporating wood chewed by the larva.

Here they will overwinter before emerging as an adult the following spring.

Flight Season

Flies from May to July in one generation.

Size and Family

• Family – Notodontidae
• Large Sized
• Wingspan Range – 45-70mm

Conservation status

• UK BAP: Not listed
• Common

Caterpillar Food Plants

Caterpillars feed on poplars (populus) and willows (salix), particularly low regrowth or suckers of Aspen and Goat Willow in sunny places.

Habitat

Gardens, hedgerows, open woodland, moorland and scrub.

Distribution

• Countries – England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland

• Fairly frequent throughout most of the British Isles, but not recorded from Shetland. Local and rare in the Channel Islands.