Goat Moth

Cossus cossus

The Goat Moth is a big, furry moth that looks a bit like a fluffy goat! It has a unique, soft body and loves to fly around at night, making it special and fun to spot.

Lebensraum: Forests

Aussehen

The Goat Moth is a large, sturdy moth with a mottled grey and brown appearance, often blending seamlessly with tree bark. Its forewings feature intricate dark lines and a pattern resembling cracked wood. Unlike many moths, it has a robust, thick body and relatively short antennae.

ReichAnimaliaStammArthropodaKlasseInsectaOrdnungLepidopteraFamilieCossidaeGattungCossus

Goat Moth

Kategorie

Insekten

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Goat Moth caterpillars can live hidden inside trees for up to five whole years!

Some ancient Romans actually considered roasted Goat Moth caterpillars a yummy snack!

The caterpillars give off a strong smell, which is how the moth got its "Goat" name!

When it's time to transform, caterpillars make tough cocoons woven from wood fragments!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Goat Moth caterpillars can bore extensive tunnels deep into tree trunks because of their powerful mandibles that helps them create sheltered homes and access food.

Goat Moth caterpillars can emit a strong, unpleasant scent because of special glands that helps them deter potential predators.

Adult Goat Moths can survive for weeks without eating because they store all needed energy as a caterpillar that helps them focus only on mating.

Maße und Details

Flügelspannweite: 70-100 mm
Größe: 50-70 mm
Lebenserwartung: 1095-1825 Tage
Anzahl der Beine: 6

Ernährung und Fütterung

Young Goat Moths munch on tree wood, while adults famously don't eat at all!

Altersunterschiede: Larvae bore into and feed on tree wood; adults have vestigial mouthparts and do not feed.

Hauptnahrung

willow wood
poplar wood
oak wood
apple wood

Nahrungssuche

Foraging

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eats

White Willow

Salix alba

Larvae tunnel and feed on its wood.

eats

European Aspen

Populus tremula

Caterpillars bore into the trunk and branches.

eats

Pedunculate Oak

Quercus robur

A host tree for the wood-boring larvae.

hunts

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

Preys on larvae hidden in tree trunks.

eaten by

Greater Mouse-eared Bat

Myotis myotis

Adult moths are part of their diet.

Merkmale

Pelzig

Pelzig beschreibt Tiere, die eine dichte Schicht aus weichen Haaren oder Fell besitzen.

Einzelgänger

Einzelgänger leben den größten Teil ihres Lebens allein und interagieren mit Artgenossen nur zur Paarung oder zur Aufzucht der Jungen.

Getarnt

Getarnt beschreibt Organismen, die über eine Färbung oder Musterung verfügen, durch die sie mit ihrer Umgebung verschmelzen.

Pflanzenfressend

Dieses Merkmal kennzeichnet Lebewesen, deren Ernährung vollständig oder hauptsächlich aus pflanzlichem Material besteht.

Wald

Waldlebensräume sind terrestrische Lebensräume, die von dichtem Baumbestand dominiert werden und eine große Vielfalt an Pflanzen- und Tierarten beherbergen.