# Feathered Thorn (*Colotois pennaria*) The Feathered Thorn is a special caterpillar that looks like a little green feather! It has soft, fuzzy hairs that help it blend in with leaves and stay safe from birds. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Feathered Thorn](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Geometridae_-_Colotois_pennaria.JPG&width=800) Photo: Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Geometridae_-_Colotois_pennaria.JPG) ## Appearance The Feathered Thorn is a medium-sized moth with jagged-edged wings, typically pale yellow-ochre to brownish-orange. Its most distinctive features are the heavily 'feathered' antennae, especially on the male, and two small dark spots on each forewing. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Geometridae - **Genus:** Colotois ## Interesting facts - Feathered Thorn caterpillars can be bright green or brown to match their plant foods! - Its caterpillars are so good at camouflaging, they look just like twigs! - The male moth's huge feathery antennae help him detect female moths from far off. - This moth is one of the few that flies mainly in autumn, even when it's chilly. ## Special abilities - **Pheromone Radar:** Feathered Thorn can detect mates from far away because of its large, feathery antennae that are super-sensitive to scents. - **Leaf Disguise:** Feathered Thorn has jagged-edged wings that help them perfectly blend in with autumn leaves, making them hard to spot. - **Night Navigator:** Feathered Thorn can fly and find food in the dark because of its special eyes that collect lots of dim light. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 40-55 mm - **Size:** 20-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-28 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch on tree leaves; adult moths mostly sip nectar for energy. - **Age differences:** Caterpillars are leaf-eating herbivores, while adult moths primarily feed on flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Quercus robur, Betula pendula, Salix caprea, Populus tremula - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Caterpillars feed on the leaves of this common oak tree. - **Eats:** [Silver Birch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silver-birch) (*Betula pendula*) — Larvae also consume the foliage of birch trees. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Its caterpillars and adult moths are eaten by various bird species. - **Eaten by:** Common Pipistrelle (*Pipistrellus pipistrellus*) — Adult moths flying at night are prey for insectivorous bats. - **Pollinates:** Common Ivy (*Hedera helix*) — Adult moths visit late-blooming ivy flowers to drink nectar. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Don't touch caterpillars unless you know they are safe; some can be prickly or have hairs that irritate skin. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Feathered Thorn? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Feathered Thorn's wingspan? 40-55 mm ### How big is Feathered Thorn? 20-25 mm ### How long does Feathered Thorn live? 14-28 days ### What does Feathered Thorn eat? Caterpillars munch on tree leaves; adult moths mostly sip nectar for energy. ### Where is Feathered Thorn usually found? Forests ### How does Feathered Thorn hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Feathered Thorn have? 6 ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Feathered Thorn: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/feathered-thorn)