Erebidae

72.0211 Autumn Webworm / Mulberry Moth Hyphantria cunea (Drury, 1773)

Immigrant or Adventive

Similar species: There are three main forms; a pure white form, another form that is heavily spotted that is similar to White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda which is a larger (18 to 23mm) moth with a different arrangment of spots, and a third form with less spots that looks superficially similar to Water Ermine Spilosoma urticae which is also larger (18 to 21mm) with a different arrangement of spots. Both of these have yellow-orange abdomens rather than pale yellow or white. The female Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica is similar in size and in that it has a white abdomen, but the pattern of spots is again different.

Forewing: M 14 to 15mm, F 18mm

Habitats: Woodland, orchards and gardens.

Habits: The moth comes to light. A pest species from North America which has spread from its accidental introduction in Hungary in the 1940s.

Foodplant: The larva lives gregariously feeding from webs spun across the foliage of Mulberry, plums, apples, cherries, maples and other broadleaved trees and shrubs and herbaceous plants.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on pears and poplars.