72.020 White Ermine Copyright Martin Evans
72.020 White Ermine dark form Copyright Martin Evans
72.020 White Ermine Copyright Martin Evans
72.020 White Ermine female Copyright Martin Evans
72.020 White Ermine female Copyright Martin Evans
72.020 White Ermine and Buff Ermine Copyright Martin Evans
72.020 White Ermine and Muslin Moth female Copyright Martin Evans
72.020 White Ermine and Water Ermine Copyright Martin Evans
72.020 White Ermine larva 22mm Copyright Martin Evans
72.020 White Ermine larva 33mm Copyright Martin Evans
Distribution map Copyright Martin Evans
Life stages table Copyright Martin Evans
Life stages table Copyright Martin Evans 72.020 White Ermine Copyright Martin Evans

Erebidae

72.020 White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common

Similar species: Buff Ermine Spilosoma lutea is cream-buff or whitish-buff rather than white and is less spotted except for the diagonal line of spots from the apex to the trailing edge of the forewing which also shows through from the underside of the wing in plainer specimens.

Forewing: 18 to 23mm

Habitats: Woodland, scrub, hedgerows, moorland, heathland, coastal downland, sand-dunes, wasteground, gardens and most other sites where its foodplants are found.

Habits: The moth comes to light towards midnight.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Common Nettle, Dandelion, bedstraws, Broom, docks and many other low growing plants. It pupates in a cocoon in the leaf litter.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on knotweeds, Sorrel, Bramble, clovers and occasionally willows and Elder.