Ground Lackey
Malacosoma castrensis
Caterpillars build communal silk tents that function as miniature greenhouses, trapping solar heat to help them digest food during chilly spring mornings.
- Scientific name
- Malacosoma castrensis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Lasiocampidae › Malacosoma
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Dry grasslands, coastal dunes, heathlands, and sunny meadows
- Diet
- Larvae feed on low-growing plants including heather, wild rose, plantain, and bramble; adults do not feed.
- Range
- Europe, Central Asia, Siberia
- Size
- Wingspan of 28-40 mm; caterpillars grow up to 50 mm in length
- Lifespan
- 1 year (adults live only 5-10 days)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss due to intensive agriculture, overgrazing, and scrub encroachment.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but defensive. The caterpillars are covered in fine, urticating hairs that can cause mild skin irritation or allergic reactions if handled. Observe their communal silken tents from a safe distance of 1-2 feet. If skin contact occurs, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and avoid touching your face.
Malacosoma castrense (or Malacosoma castrensis ), the ground lackey , is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae. It is a tent caterpillar found in Europe.
Photo: Bernard DUPONT, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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