Gastropacha quercifolia

Gastropacha quercifolia(Gastropacha quercifolia)

Phylum —arthropoda
Class —insecta
Order — lepidoptera
Family —lasiocampidae

Genus –gastropacha

Appearance

The younger caterpillars are black with a small light spot. The older caterpillars are grey-brown and have a small horn on their back.

The wingspan is 50–90 mm. Forewings are red-brown, with purple-bluish gloss, towards costa blackish-mixed. Hindwings as forewings, but lines indistinct, straight.Females are larger and darker than males. Having a rest, the butterfly folds its front wings into a house, becoming like a dry leaf.

Habitat

Gastropacha quercifolia occurs from Northern Spain across much of Europe and the more temperate Asia to Japan.

Behavior

The caterpillar overwinters free on branches, mostly in the inner area of the woods, and often rather close to the ground, often on small branches that grow directly from the trunk and usually on the underside of them.

The caterpillars are usually mature in June. The moths fly from late June through August.

Diet

Adult butterflies of this species do not feed and live off the stocks accumulated during the larval period.

The larvae feed on Crataegus, Prunus spinosa, willow and oak.

Reproduction

For their reproduction you need a terrarium with a size of 50 x 50 x 70 cm. The female lays eggs on the branches and leaves of the forage plant. The eggs are oval, green, with white stripes. The duration of incubation is 16-18 days. Incubation is at a humidity of 50-70% and a temperature of 18-20°C.Forage plants should be replaced every 3-4 days.It is better to keep the caterpillars in mesh terrariums of 6-8 pieces.In the terrarium, you need to place a branch of a forage plant. They should be kept at a roomtemperature.The humidity is 50-60%.The caterpillar develops for 2-3 months. Then the caterpillar weaves a cocoon, in which it pupates. The cocoon is gray, attached to a branch. The butterfly leaves the cocoon after about two months, depending on the temperature and humidity.

In captivity

The mesh terrarium with a size of 50 × 50 × 70 mm is suitable for keeping butterflies. Room temperature is necessary. Daylight time is 12 hours.