Lackey moth

Lackey Malacosoma neustria
Adult with light coloration
Malacosoma neustria formosana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lasiocampidae
Genus:	Malacosoma
Species:	M. neustria
Binomial name
Malacosoma neustria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Phalaena neustria Linnaeus, 1758

Caterpillar, Ermingen, Ulm, Germany

Eggs

Caterpillars on silk tent.

The Lackey moth (Malacosoma neustria) is common across southern Britain and central Europe. Malacosoma species are notable for their caterpillars which are brightly coloured and form silken tents to regulate their temperature. Malacosoma neustria caterpillars are brown with blue, orange and white stripes. The adults are a fairly uniform brown. The larvae feed mainly on trees and shrubs from within their tents.

In Britain the flight period is from July to August.

Subspecies

• Malacosoma neustria neustria
• Malacosoma neustria flavescens Grünberg, 1912 (Morocco, Algeria)
• Malacosoma neustria formosana Matsumura, 1932 (Taiwan)