description Dun-bar Moth Overview
The Dun-bar, Cosmia trapezina, is a moth in the family Noctuidae found in Europe and parts of the Palearctic region. Its larvae feed on the foliage of broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including oak, birch, hazel, willow, and other hosts. The species is distinctive because its caterpillars are also documented attacking and eating other moth caterpillars, including larvae of other species, and may be cannibalistic in captivity.
help Dun-bar Moth FAQ
What is the scientific name of the Dun-bar moth?
The Dun-bar is Cosmia trapezina, a moth in the family Noctuidae. It occurs across Europe and parts of the Palearctic region.
What do Dun-bar moth caterpillars eat?
Dun-bar larvae feed on the foliage of trees and shrubs such as oak, birch, hazel, and willow. They are also notable for sometimes eating other moth caterpillars, which makes them unusual among many plant-feeding moth larvae.
Where can the Dun-bar moth be found?
The species is widely distributed in Europe and extends into parts of the Palearctic. Its caterpillars use broad-leaved trees and shrubs, so wooded habitats and areas with mature hedgerow plants are relevant places to look.
Why is the Dun-bar moth interesting to moth recorders?
Cosmia trapezina is interesting because its caterpillar is not strictly vegetarian. Alongside feeding on leaves, the larva can prey on other moth larvae, giving the species a distinctive ecological behavior.
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