Speckled Pellicle
Common NameSpeckled Pellicle
Scientific NameSpilosoma lubricipeda
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyArctiinae
Wingspan (mm)41
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorscream, black, orange
HabitatGardens, parks, hedgerows, woodland edges, meadows, waste ground
Geographic RangeEurope, temperate Asia to Japan
Host Plantsnettle, dock, dandelion, plantain, bramble, honeysuckle
Flight PeriodMay to July
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in batches. The larvae are distinctive hairy 'woolly bear' caterpillars, polyphagous on various herbaceous plants. Pupation occurs in a cocoon spun among leaf litter.
Identification TipsKey features include the creamy-white, black-spotted forewings and often orange-yellow hindwings. It can be distinguished from similar species like *Spilosoma urticae* by the presence of orange on the hindwings and the specific spotting pattern.
Description
A medium-sized moth characterized by creamy-white forewings heavily marked with irregular black spots, and hindwings that are typically orange-yellow with fewer black spots. The body is furry and yellowish.
