List of Lepidoptera that feed on willows

'Willows, sallows and osiers - Salix spp. - are used as food plants by the larvae (caterpillars) of a large number of Lepidoptera species including the following.

Monophagous species

Species that feed exclusively on Salix.

• Batrachedridae
  • Batrachedra salicipomenella
• Coleophoridae
  • Several Coleophora case-bearer species:
    • C. albidella – only on S. aurita, goat willow (S. caprea), grey willow (S. cinerea) and S. repens
    • C. bedella – only on S. excelsa
    • C. castipennella
    • C. kearfottella
    • C. zelleriella
• Geometridae
  • Slender Pug (Eupithecia tenuiata)
• Hepialidae
  • Sthenopis thule
• Noctuidae
  • Minor Shoulder-knot (Brachylomia viminalis)

Polyphagous species

Species that feed on Salix and other plants.

• Arctiidae
  • Giant Leopard Moth (Ecpantheria scribonia)
• Batrachedridae
  • Batrachedra praeangusta
  • Batrachedra striolata – recorded on arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepsis)
• Bedelliidae
  • Bedellia somnulentella
• Coleophoridae
  • Several Coleophora case-bearer species:
    • C. anatipennella
    • C. atlantica
    • C. currucipennella
    • C. lusciniaepennella
    • C. malivorella
    • C. piperata
    • C. pruniella – recorded on crack willow (Salix fragilis)
    • C. salicivorella
• Geometridae
  • Agriopis marginaria (Dotted Border)
  • Alcis repandata (Mottled Beauty)
  • Cabera exanthemata (Common Wave)
  • Cabera pusaria (Common White Wave)
  • Chloroclysta truncata (Common Marbled Carpet)
  • Colotois pennaria (Feathered Thorn)
  • Crocallis elinguaria (Scalloped Oak)
  • Ectropis crepuscularia (The Engrailed)
  • Epirrita autumnata (Autumnal Moth)
  • Eupithecia pusillata (Juniper Pug) – Americas only
  • Eupithecia subfuscata (Grey Pug)
  • Eupithecia vulgata (Common Pug)
  • Hemithea aestivaria (Common Emerald)
  • Lomaspilis marginata (Clouded Border)
  • Odontopera bidentata (Scalloped Hazel)
  • Operophtera brumata (Winter Moth)
  • Opisthograptis luteolata (Brimstone Moth)
• Hepialidae
  • Sthenopis argenteomaculatus
  • Sthenopis purpurascens
• Lymantriidae
  • Euproctis chrysorrhoea (Brown-tail)
  • Euproctis similis (Yellow-tail)
  • Lymantria dispar (Gypsy Moth)
• Noctuidae
  • Acronicta leporina (The Miller)
  • Acronicta megacephala (Poplar Grey)
  • Acronicta psi (Grey Dagger)
  • Acronicta tridens (Dark Dagger)
  • Agrochola circellaris (The Brick) – recorded on common osier (S. viminalis)
  • Amphipyra berbera (Svensson's Copper Underwing)
  • Amphipyra tragopoginis (Mouse Moth)
  • Antitype chi (Grey Chi)
  • Catocala cara (Darling Underwing) – prefers black willow (S. nigra)
  • Catocala delilah (Delilah Underwing)
  • Catocala junctura (Joined Underwing)
  • Cosmia trapezina (The Dun-bar)
  • Diarsia mendica (Ingrailed Clay)
  • Diarsia rubi (Small Square-spot)
  • Eugnorisma glareosa (Autumnal Rustic)
  • Euplexia lucipara (Small Angle Shades)
  • Eupsilia transversa (The Satellite)
  • Melanchra persicariae (Dot Moth)
  • Naenia typica (The Gothic)
  • Noctua comes (Lesser Yellow Underwing)
  • Noctua janthina (Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing)
  • Ochropleura plecta (Flame Shoulder)
  • Orthosia cerasi (Common Quaker)
  • Orthosia gothica (Hebrew Character)
  • Xestia triangulum (Double Square-spot)
  • Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic)
• Notodontidae
  • Furcula bifida (Poplar Kitten)
  • Nadata gibbosa (Rough Prominent)
  • Phalera bucephala (Buff-tip)
  • Ptilodon capucina (Coxcomb Prominent)
• Nymphalidae
  • Limenitis archippus (Viceroy Butterfly)
  • Limenitis arthemis (American White Admiral/Red-spotted Purple) – recorded on beaked willow (S. bebbiana) and others
• Pyralidae
  • Endotricha flammealis
• Saturniidae
  • Automeris io (Io Moth)
  • Pavonia pavonia (Emperor Moth)
• Sphingidae
  • Laothoe populi (Poplar Hawk-moth)
  • Smerinthus jamaicensis (Twin-spotted Sphinx)

External links

• Caterpillar Hostplants Database