Plum Lappet
Odonestis pruni
When at rest, this moth's hindwings protrude beyond the forewings, creating a silhouette that perfectly resembles a dried, serrated leaf.
- Scientific name
- Odonestis pruni
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Lasiocampidae › Odonestis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous woodlands, fruit orchards, and shrubby forest edges.
- Diet
- Larvae feed on leaves of Prunus, Malus, and Quercus species; adults have vestigial mouthparts and do not feed.
- Range
- Europe, Northern Asia, Japan
- Size
- Wingspan of 35-50mm.
- Lifespan
- 1 year total cycle; 5-10 days as a winged adult.
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Widespread use of pesticides in orchards and light pollution which disrupts nocturnal mating behaviors.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. This moth does not bite or sting. If found, observe its remarkable leaf-mimicry from a distance. Avoid touching the wings as it can rub off the scales necessary for flight. If one enters your home, gently guide it into a jar and release it outside near trees.
Odonestis is a genus of moths in the family Lasiocampidae described by Ernst Friedrich Germar in 1812. It consists of twenty-two species, which is found in Europe, Russia, Asia Minor, China and Japan.
Photo: katunchik, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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