Available now. The lobster moth is a real stand-out member of the notodontidae family and a species that is difficult to obtain. Aside from the mature catepillar's lobster like appearance, the larval stage becomes more intriguing for the fact that in its first instar the caterpillar feeds exclusively on its egg-shell and mimics an ant or small spider. Egg-shells are guarded robustly at this stage and hatchlings move around protectively in its vicinity until it has been successfully consumed. It is not until the second instar that the larvae begins to take oak or beech leaves.
During the later larval stages, the reddish-brown caterpillar develops its characteristic lobster like appearance: the head is disproportiontely large and the swollen anal segment is held upright or forward over the intermediate segments in a scorpion like fashion; the claspers on the anal segment are modified into long thin structures and If disturbed by predators the larvae puts on a menacing display with the thoraic legs splayed out and the head arched back over the body.
Mature caterpillars spin a robust cocoon in leaf litter where the insect spends the winter before emerging as an adult moth during the following summer.This is a great opportunity to acquire breeding stock of a unique and fascinating species.
