Apple Ermine

Yponomeuta malinellus

The Apple Ermine is a small, fluffy caterpillar that loves to munch on apple leaves. It turns into a beautiful white moth with black spots. You can often find it in gardens and orchards!

Hábitat: Gardens and orchards

Aspecto

The Apple Ermine moth is small with pure white wings adorned with numerous tiny, evenly spaced black dots, making it look almost polka-dotted. Its body is slender and white. The caterpillar is yellowish-grey with a shiny black head and black spots on its segments.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenLepidopteraFamiliaYponomeutidaeGéneroYponomeuta

Apple Ermine

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

1/5 · Muy bajo

Snaps

¡Sé la primera persona en hacer un snap!

Datos interesantes

Female moths lay their tiny eggs inside a special protective 'shield' that hardens like glue!

Once, they made so many webs, they completely blanketed trees, looking like snow!

Their caterpillars can totally cover an apple tree in a giant, spooky-looking silk web!

These moths are called 'ermine' because their spotted wings remind people of fancy ermine fur coats!

Habilidades especiales

Apple Ermine caterpillars can spin huge silken webs that protect their entire community from predators and harsh weather.

Apple Ermine caterpillars eat together in large groups, which helps them strip leaves from trees much faster than eating alone.

The adult moth has pure white wings with tiny black dots, providing camouflage that helps it blend in at night.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 16-20 mm
Tamaño: 8-10 mm
Esperanza de vida: 42-63 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 5-10 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6
Tamaño de la colonia: 50-200

Dieta y alimentación

Apple Ermine caterpillars munch on apple leaves, while adult moths do not eat at all!

Diferencias por edad: Caterpillars are voracious leaf- eaters, but adult moths do not feed.

Alimentos principales

Malus domestica leaves
Malus baccata leaves
Crataegus leaves

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

eats

Apple Tree

Malus domestica

Caterpillars feed on its leaves, causing defoliation.

parasitizes

Ermine Moth Parasitoid Wasp

Ageniaspis fuscicollis

This tiny wasp lays its eggs inside Apple Ermine caterpillars.

eats

Great Tit

Parus major

Great Tits are common birds that prey on Apple Ermine caterpillars.

Rasgos

Peludo

Peludo describe a los animales que poseen una cubierta densa de pelo o pelaje suave.

Solitario

Los animales solitarios viven solos durante la mayor parte de su vida y solo interactúan con otros para aparearse o cuidar de sus crías.

Herbívoro

Este rasgo caracteriza a los organismos cuya dieta consiste total o principalmente en material vegetal.

Diurno

Los animales diurnos están activos principalmente durante el día y suelen descansar o dormir por la noche.

Adaptado a la ciudad

Esta característica de hábitat indica especies que pueden coexistir con los humanos en entornos urbanos y suburbanos, utilizando estructuras artificiales y espacios verdes.