2033 Lymantria monacha (Black Arches) Female

Erebidae, Lymantriinae Wingspan: 54mm.

This female was placed on the trunk of our big fir tree after a trapping night, and stayed there for 2 days. A close inspection showed that she was laying eggs, by tucking them under a bark flap on the trunk. I marked the area with a pen to check after she had finished, and found the eggs inserted between the flap and the trunk. They stay like this over Winter, hatching in the following Spring.