Bird-Cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella) lives in temperate forests across Europe and Asia. It feeds on bird cherry leaves.
Fascinating facts about the Bird-Cherry Ermine
- At just 16-25 mm across, the bird-cherry ermine fits on a fingertip yet sports a striking pattern of five black rows on stark white forewings, a smoky brown hindwing edge, and thread-like antennae that stretch two-thirds the wing length. When startled, it darts away and drops skillfully to the ground.
- First recorded by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, this moth has been known to science since 1758, yet it still roams almost the entire European continent and reaches into northern and eastern Asia. Its broad range means it can colonise river lowlands, alluvial forests, stream banks, gardens and parks alike.
- Female moths lay their eggs on winter buds, where the tiny caterpillars spend the cold months hidden beneath bud scales. When spring bursts the buds, the larvae emerge and feed nonstop until the end of May or early June, then spin tightly packed communal webs on trunks or low herbs to pupate. By staying concealed in these massive silk tents they can strip an entire tree bare, yet the tree often survives, only growing more slowly in later years.
- Mass outbreaks of bird-cherry ermine are not rare; population numbers swing wildly from year to year, and when they peak the larvae can devour every leaf on a host tree. Such defoliation can stunt the tree's growth for the next season.
- Adult bird-cherry ermine moths are nocturnal flyers from July through August, drawn to artificial lights and sipping nectar under the night sky.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeEurope and Asia
HabitatTemperate forests
DietBird cherry leaves
About the Bird-Cherry Ermine
In the dappled light of woodland edges, the Bird-Cherry Ermine moth dances through the air, its delicate wings beating in a hypnotic rhythm as it navigates the intricate web of branches and leaves. With a subtle beauty that belies its remarkable nature, this tiny creature weaves its way through the world, leaving behind a trail of silken threads that testify to its industrious spirit. As it flits from flower to flower, the Bird-Cherry Ermine's very existence is a testament to the hidden wonders that thrive in the unseen corners of our natural world.
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