The Puss Moth (Cerura vinula) is an insect in the Notodontidae family of moths.
The Puss Moth is creamy-white to yellowish-grey with light-brown lines and markings. The female has blackish lines and markings. It has a wide whitish-grey head, thorax, and abdomen that are very fluffy, like a hairy cat.
It has a wingspan of about 6-7 centimetres (3 inches). The female is slightly larger than the male.
It is found across Europe, Russia, and the Caucasus, as well as temperate zones in Asia. It prefers dense woodlands. It is usually seen from April to August in the Northern Hemisphere.
Its life cycle is egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (cocoon), and adult moth.
The adult female Puss Moth lays up to 200 eggs on plant leaves. The caterpillar feeds on the leaves until it pupates – makes a cocoon. In the cocoon, it undergoes metamorphosis for about 14 days before it emerges as an adult moth. The adult moth feeds on nectar from flowers.
Location of photographs: Tbilisi Natural History Museum, Georgia
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM