Carcina quercana (Fabricius, 1775) Species
Last modified: Sept. 6, 2023, 8:22 p.m.
A common species throughout Belgium, recorded from all provinces.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Peleopodidae > Subfamily: Peleopodinae > Genus: Carcina > Species: Carcina quercana
- Vernacular names
- Vuurmot (NL), Eichen-Faulholzmotte (DE)
- Synonyms
- Carcina fagana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Sélys-Longchamps E. 1844. Énumération des insectes Lépidoptères de la Belgique. — Mémoires de la Société royale des Sciences de Liége 2: 1–35. On page 22 (as fagana). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Museum specimens
No pictures yet!Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
Pale green with yellow or white dorsolateral lines, head yellowish green, prothoracic plate and legs greenish.
Bionomics
The species hibernates in the larval stage. The caterpillar lives beneath a white silken web on the underside of a leaf from September to June. It develops slowly before and during hibernation, but much faster in early spring.
Pupation on the underside of a leaf, under a silken web, or under a rather long white silken web along a tree branch during June and July.
The adults rest during the day on the underside of leaves, preferably Quercus leaves on the lower branches. They become active during the evening and later come to light.
Flight periods
One long generation a year: from late June till late October.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Fagus sylvatica, Castanea sativa and Acer pseudoplatanus
- Host plant (genera):
- Quercus and Malus
Polyphagous. The caterpillar lives on a leaf of: Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula, Castanea sativa, Cornus mas, Crataegus, Fagus sylvestris, Hypericum, Malus, Prunus, Pyrus, Quercus, Rhamnus catharticus, Rosa, Rubus, Sorbus, and Viburnum. The species has a preference for Fagus and Quercus.
Habitat
Deciduous forests, preferably with many Quercus trees. Fageto-Quercetum and Querceto-Fagetum. But also in gardens, orchards etc. with a preference for xerothermic situations.
