Vapourer

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Orgyia antiqua

Fairly common & widespread in Britain.

The hairy Caterpillar is spectacular, with "humps", "horns", and a "tail" in a combination of dark grey, red, and yellow.

The Larvae feeds on a range deciduous trees & shrubs.

Males typically have orange- to red-brown (ochreous red and dark brown) wings; each fore wing has a white comma-shaped (tornal) spot. It has marked plumose (short, bipectinate) antennae.

Females have vestigial wings and is flightless; it is light grey-brown (ochreous grey), has "shortly bipectinate" antennae, and a swollen abdomen.

In the UK, one protracted generation, from July to October in the south.

The Males are diurnal, flying during the day, but are occasionally attracted to light.