72.012 Brown-tail Copyright Martin Evans
72.012 Brown-tail female Copyright Martin Evans
72.012 Brown-tail and Yellow-tail females Copyright Martin Evans
72.012 Brown-tail larva 14mm Copyright Martin Evans
72.012 Brown-tail larva 15mm Copyright Martin Evans
72.012 Brown-tail larva 19mm Copyright Martin Evans
72.012 Brown-tail larva 30mm Copyright Martin Evans
Distribution map Copyright Martin Evans
Life stages table Copyright Martin Evans 72.012 Brown-tail Copyright Martin Evans

Erebidae

72.012 Brown-tail Euproctis chrysorrhoea (Linnaeus, 1758)

Local

Similar species: Yellow-tail Euproctis similis has a yellow to orange tip to the abdomen. Males have one or two dark spots on the trailing edge of the forewing. Females have all white wings. Both Brown and Yellow-tail moths curve their abdomen into view when they feel threatened.

Forewing: M 16 to 20mm, F 18 to 19mm

Habitats: Open sunny sites amongst coastal scrub and in hedgerows, parkland and gardens.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds in a communial web on brambles, sallows, Hawthorn, Dog-rose, Blackthorn, plums, cherries, apples, pears, Sea Buckthorn and other small deciduous trees and shrubs in a sunny position. The small larva overwinters in a tough silk web on a stem of the foodplant, usually on the lower growth. It pupates in a cocoon spun amongst foliage or in the leaf litter.