White satin moth

Appearance

For a key to the terms used, see :Glossary of entomology terms.

The wingspan is 37–50 mm. White, sometimes with ochreous, or in the male even blackish costal margin; head and collar as well as the pectinations of the antennae dark. Tibiae and tarsi with broad black rings. The East-Asiatic species ''Leucoma candida'' 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, Japan. Yellowish-grey specimens are ab. ''sohesti'' Capr. 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 wings and hairy covering reddish, almost rose red at the costal and inner margins of the forewing ; in southern Norway. Distribution of ''Leucoma salicis'' occupies most part of Eurasia south from the Polar Circle, excluding north-eastern Siberia.

Behavior

The eggs are laid on tree trunks in clusters covered with a paper-like substance. Larva are black with a row of light dorsal spots and a yellow lateral line. Segments four and five each with a pair of united fleshy pointed tubercles. The larvae feed on ''Salix'' and ''Populus'' species. Pupation is in a loose cocoon between leaves, the pupa being glossy black with white spots and yellow tufts or hair. The moth appears in June, July and August. The males already begin to fly before dusk in the evening and often swarm like snowflakes round the poplars and willows at country roads.

Found in half shady, damp locations, such as forest edges and hedges with their food plants, but also in avenues, parks and gardens. They are common, but only occur in small numbers. ''Leucoma salicis'' is also reported from outbreaks , but these are known only from historical times.