Leucoma salicis

Leucoma salicis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Erebidae
Genus:	Leucoma
Species:	L. salicis
Binomial name
	Leucoma salicis; (Linnaeus, 1758)

Leucoma salicis, also known as the white satin moth or satin moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It is found in Europe including the British Isles excluding the far north. In the east it is found across the Palearctic to Japan. The species was introduced to North America in the 1920s.

Technical description and variation

The Leucoma salicis has a wingspan of 37–50 mm. White, sometimes with black spots. The head and collar as well as the pectinations of the antennae are black. Tibiae and tarsi with broad black rings. The East-Asiatic species Leucoma candida (Staudinger, 1892) with different male genitalia structure, has much purer glossy white and entirely opaque, more thickly scaled, wings and is on the whole smaller, with narrower wings. From central and eastern Siberia, Mongolia, Amurland, Korea, China and Japan. Yellowish-grey specimens are ab. sohesti Capr^{[clarification needed]}. Specimens from Tian-shan with black pectinations of the antennae of the male are nigripennata Staudinger. ab. nigrociliata Fuchs has sharp black third of the costal margin and glossy black fringes; Germany, ab. rubicunda Strand has both the and hairy covering reddish, almost rose red at the costal and inner margins of the forewing (male); in southern Norway.^[1] Distribution of Leucoma salicis occupies most part of Eurasia south from the Polar Circle, excluding north-eastern Siberia.

life and Habitat

Leucoma salicis eggs are usually laid on tree trunks in clusters covered with a paper-like substance. Larvae are black with a row of light dorsal spots and a yellow lateral line. Segments four and five have a pair of fleshy pointed tubercles. The larvae feed on Salix and Populus species. Pupation takes place in a loose cocoon between leaves. The pupa is glossy black with white spots and yellow tufts. Leucoma salicis is generally active in June, July and August. The males begin to fly shortly before dusk.

Leucoma salicis prefers damp locations, such as forest edges and hedges, as well as alleys, parks and gardens in urban areas.

Eggs
Caterpillar

Female
Male

References

^ Seitz, A. Ed. Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 2: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen Spinner und Schwärmer, 1912- 1913

External links

White satin moth at UKMoths
Fauna Europaea
Savela, Markku. "Leucoma salicis (Linnaeus, 1758)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
Lepiforum e.V.

[1] Seitz, A. Ed. Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 2: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen Spinner und Schwärmer, 1912- 1913

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