Orgyia antiqua
Wingspan of the male about 35–40 mm – the female is almost wingless and cannot fly. From August to October the males fly restlessly in the sunshine in search of females, which stay on their own pupa, where they also lay their eggs after mating. The eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring. Common throughout the country on heaths and along woodland edges. SEE THE PROJECT UNFOLD IN PICTURES.
12 April – eggs found on heather on the dike. Not an obvious place to find this species. I am keeping an eye on when the eggs start to hatch. There are said to be several hundred eggs.
1 May – the first eggs hatch, and a few are taken home to my “caterpillar playpen”
8 May – caterpillar 8 days old, 3–4 mm – being fed fresh beech leaves
16 May – caterpillars 16 days old, about 1 cm – still being fed beech leaves
16 May – caterpillars 16 days old, about 1 cm – still being fed beech leaves. I tried birch leaves, but that was no success
25 May – after 25 days – last moult of the caterpillar stage
25 May – caterpillar 25 days old – just over 2 cm
29 May – caterpillar 29 days old
1 June – caterpillar 31 days old – about 3 cm
7 June – caterpillars pupated after 37 days – about 1.5 cm high
13 June – female hatched after 43 days. She eats nothing in her adult life. She simply waits for a suitor, whom she tries to lure with scents (pheromones).
13 June – female hatched after 43 days
13 June – female hatched after 43 days – in profile
14 June – male hatched after 44 days – ready to chase females. He is attracted by the female's scents (pheromones). The sense of smell sits in the antennae.
14 June – male hatched after 44 days – a handsome fellow