Poplar Kitten
Common NamePoplar Kitten
Scientific NameClostera anastomosis
FamilyNotodontidae
SubfamilyNotodontinae
Wingspan (mm)38
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, black
HabitatWoodlands, forests, riverbanks, and areas with poplar and willow trees
Geographic RangeEurope, Asia (Palearctic region)
Host PlantsPopulus, Salix
Flight PeriodMay to September (bivoltine)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plants. Larvae are hairy, typically greyish-brown, feeding on poplar and willow leaves. Pupation occurs in a cocoon, often between leaves or in leaf litter.
Identification TipsLook for the mottled brown and grey forewings with a prominent reddish-brown or dark apical patch, and the characteristic resting posture with the abdomen raised and a noticeable anal tuft.
Description
A medium-sized moth with cryptically patterned forewings in shades of brown and grey, often featuring a darker reddish-brown patch at the apex, and a distinctive raised, tufted abdomen when at rest.
