About Leucoma salicis Linnaeus, 1758
Technical description and variation: Leucoma salicis has a wingspan of 37–50 mm. It is white, sometimes marked with black spots. Its head, collar, and the pectinations of its antennae are black. Its tibiae and tarsi have broad black rings. Leucoma candida (Staudinger, 1892), a closely related East-Asiatic species with a different male genitalia structure, has much purer glossy white, entirely opaque, more thickly scaled wings, is smaller overall, and has narrower wings. L. candida is distributed across central and eastern Siberia, Mongolia, Amurland, Korea, China and Japan. Yellowish-grey specimens of L. salicis are classified as the aberration ab. sohesti Capr. Specimens from Tian-shan with black pectinations on the male antennae are nigripennata Staudinger. The aberration ab. nigrociliata Fuchs has a distinct sharp black band on the outer third of the costal margin, plus glossy black fringes; this form occurs in Germany. The aberration ab. rubicunda Strand has all hairy covering that is reddish, almost rose red along the costal and inner margins of the male forewing, and is found in southern Norway. The distribution of Leucoma salicis covers most of Eurasia south of the Polar Circle, excluding north-eastern Siberia. Life and habitat: Leucoma salicis females usually lay eggs in clusters on tree trunks, and the clusters are covered with a paper-like substance. Larvae are black, with a row of light dorsal spots and a yellow lateral line. The fourth and fifth segments each have a pair of fleshy pointed tubercles. Larvae feed on Salix and Populus species. Pupation occurs inside a loose cocoon between leaves. The pupa is glossy black with white spots and yellow tufts. Leucoma salicis is generally active during June, July and August. Males begin flying shortly before dusk. The species prefers damp locations, including forest edges, hedges, alleys, parks, and urban gardens.
