Brown-tail

Brown-tail
Caterpillar
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lymantriidae
Genus:	Euproctis
Species:	E. chrysorrhoea
Binomial name
Euproctis chrysorrhoea (Linnaeus, 1758)

The brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) is a moth of the family Lymantriidae. It is distributed throughout Europe.

The wings of this species are pure white, as is the body, apart from a tuft of brown hairs at the end of the abdomen. The brown coloration extends along most of the back of the abdomen in the male. In the female, the back of the abdomen is white, but the tuft of brown hairs is much bigger. The wingspan is 36-42 mm. The species flies at night in July and August and is attracted to light.

The larva is brown with red and white markings and is very hairy. These hairs provide protection for this species throughout its life cycle: the larva incorporates some into the cocoon within which it pupates; the emerging adult female collects some on its tail and uses it to camouflage and protect the eggs as they are laid. The species overwinters communally as larvae within a tough, silken tent. In areas where the species is abundant, these tents are a familiar sight, and can be seen on a huge range of plants (see list below).

The hairs break off as barbs and on contact with skin can cause rashes, skin irritation, headaches and breathing difficulties. The species should be handled using protective gloves at all stages of its life cycle. After accidental contact, people should wash their hands in soapy water and clear their eyes using an eyewash. Within London, local authorities can require householders to destroy any moths found on their property, under Section 8 of the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1979.

A brown-tail larva

Skin rash caused by the exposure to the brown-tail larva

Caterpillar - Euproctis chrysorrhoea

1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

Recorded food plants

• Acacia
• Acer - Maple
• Amelanchier
• Arctium - Burdock
• Betula - Birch
• Carya - Hickory
• Castanea - Chestnut
• Chaenomeles - Flowering quince ('Japonica')
• Crataegus - Hawthorn
• Cydonia - Quince
• Fagus - Beech
• Forsythia
• Fragaria - Strawberry
• Fraxinus - Ash
• Geranium - Cranesbill
• Gossypium - Cotton plant
• Hippophae - Sea-buckthorn
• Juglans - Walnut
• Malus - Apple
• Myrica
• Parthenocissus - Virginia creeper
• Plantago - Plantain
• Populus - Poplar
• Prunus
• Pyrus - Pear
• Quercus - Oak
• Rheum - Rhubarb
• Ribes - Currant
• Robinia
• Rosa - Rose
• Rubus
• Rumex - Dock
• Salix - Willow
• Sambucus - Elderberry
• Sorbus
• Spiraea
• Tilia - Lime
• Trifolium - Clover
• Ulmus - Elm
• Viburnum
• Vitis - Grape
• Weigela
• Wisteria

External links

• Brown-tail at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera pages
• Brown-tail at moineaudeparis.com

References

• Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
• Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984