Poplar Lappet
Common NamePoplar Lappet
Scientific NameGastropacha populifolia
FamilyLasiocampidae
SubfamilyGastropachinae
Wingspan (mm)60
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, orange
HabitatWoodlands, forests, riverine areas, parks, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, temperate Asia (from Western Europe to Japan)
Host PlantsPopulus, Salix, Betula, Quercus, Alnus
Flight PeriodJune to August
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are large, hairy, and feed on various deciduous trees. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in a cocoon among leaves or bark.
Identification TipsLook for its large size, deeply scalloped wing margins, and characteristic resting posture where the wings are folded tent-like, strongly resembling a withered leaf. The mottled brown and orange coloration with darker spots and lines is also distinctive.
Description
A large, robust moth with deeply scalloped wings that are typically reddish-brown to grey-brown, mottled with darker markings, mimicking a dead leaf.
