Invertebrates
Puss Moth
Cerura vinula
On a willow branch beside a river, a green caterpillar suddenly rears up, its red face and black false eyes glaring and its two long tails lashing like whips.
Overview
The puss moth, Cerura vinula, is a Not Evaluated moth of woodland and wet ground across Europe and temperate Asia. Its fluffy white adult and extraordinary caterpillar defences, including a false face, whip-like tails, and a formic acid spray, make it one of the most memorable moths of European willows.
A caterpillar that bluffs and sprays
The caterpillar’s red face and waving tails startle many predators, and if the bluff fails it can spray formic acid from a gland beneath its head.
Status
Not Evaluated globally, though widespread across a large range.
Puss Moth: common questions
What does the puss moth caterpillar do when threatened?
It rears up to show a red false face with black eyespots, waves two whip-like tails, and can spray formic acid at an attacker.
What does the puss moth caterpillar eat?
It feeds on the leaves of willows and poplars.
Is the puss moth the same as the puss caterpillar?
No, the puss caterpillar is a venomous North American caterpillar of a different moth, while the puss moth is a European species.
Where is the puss moth found?
It lives in woodland, river valleys, and wet ground across Europe and temperate Asia, wherever willows and poplars grow.