66.003 Lackey Copyright Martin Evans
66.003 Lackey Copyright Martin Evans
66.003 Lackey Copyright Martin Evans
66.003 Lackey larva 43mm Copyright Martin Evans
66.003 Lackey and Ground Lackey Copyright Martin Evans
Distribution map Copyright Martin Evans
Life stages table Copyright Martin Evans 66.003 Lackey Copyright Martin Evans

Lasiocampidae

66.003 Lackey Malacosoma neustria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common

Similar species: Ground Lackey Malacosoma castrensis has an outward curving bend in the first cross-line so the first and second lines are not parallel. The hindwing is the same colour or darker than the forewing and the fringe is buff and brown.

Forewing: M 13 to 16mm, F 16 to 21mm

Habitats: Hedgerows, open woodland, scrub and gardens.

Habits: The moth comes to light, usually males but occasionally females.

Foodplant: The larva feeds gregariously in a silk web until its final instar. It feeds on Hawthorn, Blackthorn, plums, cherries, apples, cultivated Potentilla, sallows, willows, Bramble, oaks and other deciduous trees. The larvae bask in sunshine on the outside of the web. The final instar larva will bask in open areas on the ground. It pupates in tough cocoon in the plant debris or low down in the vegetation.