Caterpillars overwintering on spruce roost near their food
Keywords:
behaviour, caterpillars, Lepidoptera, Norway spruce, roosting positionsAbstract
We studied roosting positions of caterpillars of five cryptically coloured moth species (Lepidoptera, Geometridae: Thera variata, Pungeleria capreolaria, Peribatodes secundarius, Hylaea fasciaria and Alcis repandata) during winter 2006/2007 (November-April). The separate caterpillars were bred in outdoor conditions, placed in transparent plastic vials (60 ml), each containing a dry and a green spruce twig. We observed the place where the caterpillars roosted during the day. We found caterpillars of all species roosting on green twigs of their host plant, in most cases stretched along a single needle (in direct contact with the source of food). This position allowed them to use effectively short periods in winter, with favourable conditions for feeding, and it also allowed them to use their cryptic colouring and shape in avoiding the predators.References
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