Description

Adult

Wingspan of 15-20 mm. Forewings are blackishbrown suffused with greenish-gold and metallic silver markings. Hindwings are black-brown with a paler anterior margin and pale fringe.

Larvae

Mature larvae reach 20 mm in length. The body is bluish-green above and pale yellow-green below with a dark line along the back and dark lines on each side. Head is yellowish-brown to black and prothoracic plate is pale yellow to yellowish-brown marked black on each side. Thoracic legs are black.

Eggs

Oval and flat, ca. 1 x 0.7 mm in size and pale green in colour.

Distribution

Europe and parts of Asia.

Economic Host(s)

A range of trees including oak, hazel, poplar, sycamore, willow, fir and larch.

Symptoms/Signs

Young larvae feed on foliage before hibernating through the winter. They re-emerge in the spring to feed on opening buds and young foliage. Final instars feed on foliage within rolled leaves.

Generations:

1