Last modified: May 5, 2024, 10:34 a.m.
For the first time recorded from Belgium in 2008. A second specimen was observed during August 2019. Hitherto only observations in WV and AN.
Exotic
A native species to Madeira from where it probably was introduced unintentionally to Ireland in the beginning of the 20th century. The first record from the European continent dates from 2002 when a specimen was found at Den Helder (province of Noord-Holland, The Netherlands).
An elliptical, tough cocoon woven with white silk and covered with fine particles of earth.
The species hibernates in the pupal stage, sometimes twice.
One generation a year: from mid July till September.
The caterpillar has been found in a great variety of vegetable matter, including decaying vegetable matter: under seed-containing bird droppings on Abies grandis, in midge-galls on Salix caprea, on Juniperus, in spongy galls on Quercus, etc....
Has a preference for woodland with a lot of Taxus.