For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the U.K.
Lackey Moths
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Scientific name: Malacosoma neustria
Size: Wingspan up to 42mm
Distribution: Found mainly in the southern half of the UK (England and Wales)
Months seen: Adult moths fly in July and August
Habitat: Hedgerows, open woodland and wasteground
Food: Caterpillars feed on blackthorn, hawthorn and rose
Special features: Adult Lackey Moths are a pale brown colour with two parallel darker brown wavy lines across the middle of the forewings. The rear edges of the wings are fringed with small dark brown and white patches.
The blue-headed larvae appear from April to June. For protection they construct a silk tent around the leaves of their foodplant and then feed inside it. When fully grown they pupate in a tough yellow cocoon.
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