Bulbs Flower Basics Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens Flower Garden Garden Furniture Garden Gnomes Garden Seeds Garden Sheds Garden Statues Garden Tools & Supplies Gardening Basics Green & Organic Groundcovers & Vines Growing Annuals Growing Basil Growing Beans Growing Berries Growing Blueberries Growing Cactus Growing Corn Growing Cotton Growing Edibles Growing Flowers Growing Garlic Growing Grapes Growing Grass Growing Herbs Growing Jasmine Growing Mint Growing Mushrooms Orchids Growing Peanuts Growing Perennials Growing Plants Growing Rosemary Growing Roses Growing Strawberries Growing Sunflowers Growing Thyme Growing Tomatoes Growing Tulips Growing Vegetables Herb Basics Herb Garden Indoor Growing Landscaping Basics Landscaping Patios Landscaping Plants Landscaping Shrubs Landscaping Trees Landscaping Walks & Pathways Lawn Basics Lawn Maintenance Lawn Mowers Lawn Ornaments Lawn Planting Lawn Tools Outdoor Growing Overall Landscape Planning Pests, Weeds & Problems Plant Basics Rock Garden Rose Garden Shrubs Soil Specialty Gardens Trees Vegetable Garden Yard Maintenance

The Life Cycle of the Mullein Moth

How to Start Lemon Seeds Indoors - watch on youtube
The Life Cycle of the Mullein Moth

The Life Cycle of the Mullein Moth. The mullein moth, with the scientific name Shargacucullia verbasci, is often found in gardens in April and May. They have pointed, dark brown wings. Their caterpillars are more likely to be seen than they are. The caterpillars are generally visible from May to July and are usually seen feasting upon mulleins. The...

The mullein moth, with the scientific name Shargacucullia verbasci, is often found in gardens in April and May. They have pointed, dark brown wings. Their caterpillars are more likely to be seen than they are. The caterpillars are generally visible from May to July and are usually seen feasting upon mulleins.
The mullein moth's range is throughout Europe and part of North Africa. In many of its native countries, the mullein moth is considered a pest by gardeners and farmers because of the caterpillar's voracious appetite and its consumption of host plants.
The mullein's life cycle is similar to other moths and it goes through the egg, larva, pupa and adult stages.
Emergence
The adult mullein moths emerge from their pupae in late April or May. They will sometimes be seen feeding on flowers after dark, although it is rare to see the moth. The mullein moth is, however, attracted by light.
Egg
Eggs are laid soon after the adult moths emerge. The female moth places the eggs beneath the leaves of plants that the caterpillars will feast upon once they hatch. White in the beginning, the eggs turn gray as they mature.
Host plants can include the butterfly bush (Buddleia), Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hicinum), figworts (Scrophularia), and--of course--mulleins (verbascum).
Larva
The caterpillar of the mullein moth gets much more notice than the actual moth. The caterpillar, which is the larval stage, is colored in yellow and blacks and the bright markings keep birds that would prey upon it at bay.
The caterpillars are active in British gardens from late May until mid-July and will molt four times before reaching the pupa stage of development.
Pupa
After its final molt the mullein moth will enter the pupa stage. In this stage, the species goes underground and spins itself into a silk cocoon. It may remain in the pupae stage for up to five years before emerging as an adult.
Adult
The adult moth will fly from April to June, depending upon the geographical region. In Britain, the flight time is April and May with the adults being seen in gardens, meadows and around the edges of woods. The adult moth's wingspan is usually 19mm to 24mm in length in a reddish-brown color.

Check out these related posts