Vapourer

Orgyia antiqua (72.017)

The Vapourer is a particularly interesting moth. The males fly during the day, especially sunny days in early autumn (July to September) seeking the wingless females with which to mate. Wingless female moths tend to only occur in winter species such as the winter moth and November moth making the Vapourer unique among late sumer moths.

The female, once mated, lays her eggs on what remains of her pupal cocoon. These eggs then overwinter, attached to the cocoon before hatching in early spring. The distinctive, hairy caterpillars with blonde tufts of hair and red spots is regularly encountered in urban and suburban gardens.