🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨

The Puss Moth, Cerura vinulais, is well recorded through most of the southern half of the British Isles becoming less common in the north.

This distinctive nocturnal moth flies in a single generation between May and July when it is attracted to light.

It can be found in a wide range of habitats including moorland, gardens and open woodland.

The caterpillars are dark brown at first with a pair of small horn like protuberances on the dorsum behind the head.

A pair of red tipped, modified rear claspers, over half the body length long, are raised to warn off predators when disturbed.

Within 7 days the caterpillars have changed into a third instar – the subtle shades of brown, yellow and green designed to blend in with the foodplant leaves.

The caterpillars continue to feed on top of leaves as they grow. In strong sun light their dark silhouette on the upperside of a leaf may at times be seen when looking up from below.