Insect · GBIF taxon 1782726
Alder Moth
Acronicta alniAlder moths are famous for the dramatic transformation of their caterpillars, which begin life mimicking white and grey bird droppings before molting into a striking black-and-yellow warning coloration adorned with long, club-tipped hairs. Adult moths are cryptically colored in mottled shades of grey, black, and white, allowing them to blend seamlessly against lichens and tree bark during the day. Nocturnal and secretive, adults take flight from late spring through midsummer to mate and lay eggs on broadleaf woodland canopies.
NocturnalCamouflagedWoodland
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Alder leaves
- Birch foliage
- Oak foliage
Predators
- Insectivorous bats
- Songbirds
- Parasitoid wasps
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, loss of mature broadleaf woodland, and pesticide use
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed broadleaf woodlands, damp river valleys, parks, and hedgerows
Life spanApproximately 1 year (including overwintering pupal stage)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyNoctuidae
- GenusAcronicta
- SpeciesAcronicta alni
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless and safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Light Trapping: Observe adults on warm, humid summer nights around ultraviolet or actinic light traps near woodland margins.
- Tree Trunks: Inspect lichen-covered oak and birch trunks during daytime to spot perfectly camouflaged resting adults.
- Beating Branches: Look for mature black-and-yellow larvae on the undersides of alder and birch leaves in late summer.
Host Plant (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Host Plant (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Jerry Lanfear, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jerry Lanfear · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative
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Found in Collections
Species set
Moonlight Marvels
Alder Moth is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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